A/RES/57/143 Welcoming also the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 3 in particular those relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Deploring the fact that the straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, mainly as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate regulatory measures and excess fishing capacity, Recognizing that insufficient monitoring, control and surveillance measures and inadequate flag State control over vessels fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks in many parts of the world exacerbate the problem of overfishing, and recognizing also the urgent need for capacity-building in monitoring, control and surveillance measures and addressing inadequate flag State control for developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Conscious that the Agreement requires States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, taking into account the specific characteristics of the subregion or region, to ensure the effective conservation, management and longterm sustainability of such stocks, and to establish such organizations or arrangements where none exist, Recognizing the obligation of States to cooperate, either directly or through subregional, regional or global organizations, to enhance the ability of developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to conserve and manage straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and to develop their own fisheries for such stocks, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, Taking into account that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 4 States fishing for straddling fish stocks or highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, shall give effect to their duty to cooperate either directly or by becoming members of the subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or participants in arrangements of that nature, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements, and that States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, _______________ 3 See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. 4 International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. 2