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/72/72
information, in accordance with international law, as reflected in Part XIII of the
Convention;
188. Notes with concern that vulnerable marine ecosystems may also be
impacted by human activities other than bottom fishing, and encourages in this regard
States and competent international organizations to consider taking action to address
such impacts;
189. Calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management
organizations and arrangements, to take into account the potential impacts of climate
change and ocean acidification in taking measures to manage deep-sea fisheries and
protect vulnerable marine ecosystems;
190. Calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management
organizations and arrangements with the competence to regulate deep -sea fisheries,
to adopt conservation and management measures, including monitoring, control and
surveillance measures, on the basis of the best available scientific information,
including stock assessments, to ensure the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish
stocks and non-target species and the rebuilding of depleted stocks, consistent with
the Guidelines and, where scientific information is uncertain, unreliable or
inadequate, to ensure that conservation and management measures are established
consistent with the precautionary approach, in particular with regard to vulnerable,
threatened or endangered species;
191. Recognizes, in particular, the special circumstances and requirements of
developing States and the specific challenges they may face in giving full effect to
certain technical aspects of the Guidelines, and that implementation by such States of
paragraphs 83 to 87 of resolution 61/105, paragraph 119 of resolution 64/72,
paragraph 129 of resolution 66/68 and paragraph 180 of resolution 71/123 and the
Guidelines should proceed in a manner that gives full consideration to section 6 of
the Guidelines on the special requirements of developing countries;
192. Recognizes the need to enhance the capacity of developing States,
including with regard to stock assessments, impact assessments, scientific and
technical knowledge and training, and encourages States to provide technical and
financial support to developing countries to address their special requirements and
challenges in implementing the Guidelines;
193. Welcomes the substantial ongoing work of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations related to the management of deep -sea fisheries
in the high seas and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the
publication of the technical paper entitled “Vulnerable marine ecosystems: processes
and practices in the high seas”, affirms the importance of the work undertaken
pursuant to paragraphs 135 and 136 of resolution 66/68, and notes in particular the
support provided by that Organization to States in implementing the Guidelines;
194. Recalls the decision to conduct in 2020 a further review of the actions
taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in
response to paragraphs 113, 117 and 119 to 124 of resolution 64/72, paragraphs 121,
126, 129, 130 and 132 to 134 of resolution 66/68 and paragraphs 156, 171, 175, 177
to 188 and 219 of resolution 71/123, with a view to ensuring effective implementation
of the measures therein and to make further recommendations, where necessary, and
decides to precede that review with a two-day workshop;
195. Encourages accelerated progress to establish criteria on the objectives,
establishment and management of marine protected areas for fisheries purposes, and
in this regard welcomes the development by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations of technical guidelines on marine protected areas and fisheries,
17-21818
33/38