Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the
Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982
relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks
and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments
A/RES/71/123
characteristics, and in order to achieve this, to urgently develop and implement
science-based management plans, including by reducing or suspending fishing catch
and fishing effort commensurate with the status of the stock, consistent with
international law, the applicable international instruments and relevant General
Assembly resolutions and guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations;
6.
Emphasizes the need for the full implementation of the outcome
document of the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States,
entitled “SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway”; 16
7.
Urges States, either directly or through appropriate subregional, regional
or global organizations or arrangements, to intensify efforts to assess and address, as
appropriate, the impacts of global climate change and ocean acidification on the
sustainability of fish stocks and the habitats that support th em, in particular the most
affected ones;
8.
Emphasizes the obligations of flag States to discharge their
responsibilities, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to ensure
compliance by vessels flying their flag with the conservation and ma nagement
measures adopted and in force with respect to fisheries resources on the high seas;
9.
Calls upon States and regional fisheries management organizations and
arrangements, as appropriate, to assess the risks and potential adverse impacts of
climate change with respect to fish stocks, consider them when establishing
conservation and management measures and identifying options to reduce risks and
adverse impacts with respect to fisheries management and the health and resilience
of marine ecosystems and enhance efforts to cooperate to collect, exchange and
publish scientific and technical data and best practices related to the development
and implementation of adaptation strategies, and to assist developing States in this
regard, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of
climate change;
10. Calls upon all States, directly or through regional fisheries management
organizations and arrangements, to apply widely, in accordance with international
law and the Code, the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches to the
conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, and also calls upon States
parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the
Agreement as a matter of priority;
11. Urges States to increase their reliance on scientific advice in developing,
adopting and implementing conservation and management measures, and to increase
their efforts, including through international cooperation, to promote science for
conservation and management measures that apply, in accordance with international
law, the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management,
enhancing understanding of ecosystem approaches, in order to ensure the long -term
conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources, and in this regard
encourages the implementation of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status
and Trends of Capture Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations as a framework for the improvement and understanding of fishery
status and trends;
_______________
16
Resolution 69/15, annex.
9/40