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
in the fisheries sector, including through the prohibition of certain forms of fisheries
subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing,
Concerned that only a limited number of States have taken measures to
implement, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations
and arrangements, the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing
Capacity adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
Recalling the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing adopted by the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations,
Particularly concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
continues to constitute a serious threat to fish stocks and marine habitats and
ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and
the economies of many States, particularly developing States,
Concerned that some operators increasingly take advantage of the
globalization of fishery markets to trade fishery products stemming from illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing and make economic profits from those
operations, which constitutes an incentive for them to pursue their activities,
Recognizing that effective deterrence and combating of illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing has significant financial and other resource implications,
Recognizing also that fishing by vessels without nationality on the high seas
undermines relevant objectives of the Convention and the Agreement to conserve
and sustainably manage marine resources, and noting with concern that fishing
vessels without nationality operate on the high seas without governance and
oversight,
Recognizing further the role of the Global Record of Fishing Vessels,
Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels in the concerted fight against
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,
Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote
Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing
Vessels on the High Seas (the Compliance Agreement), 9 the Agreement and the
Code for flag States to effectively exercise jurisdiction and control over fishing
vessels flying their flag, and vessels flying their flag which provide support to
fishing vessels, to ensure that the activities of such fishing and support vessels do
not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in
accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregi onal, regional
or global levels,
Noting the advisory opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the
Sea on the request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Subregional Fisheries
Commission, issued on 2 April 2015,
Recognizing the importance of adequately regulating, monitoring and
controlling trans-shipment at sea to contribute to combating illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing activities,
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United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2221, No. 39486.