A/RES/68/71
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
and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance
Agreement, the Code and its associated international plans of action, to increase the
capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called
for in the present resolution;
159. Welcomes the ongoing work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations in developing guidance on the strategies and measures required
for the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable small-scale fisheries, and
encourages studies for creating possible alternative livelihoods for coastal
communities;
160. Recalls that in “The future we want”, States recognized the importance of
building the capacity of developing countries to be able to benefit from the
conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources, and in
this regard emphasized the need for cooperation in marine scientific research to
implement the provisions of the Convention and the outcomes of the major summits
on sustainable development, as well as for the transfer of technology, taking into
account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines
on the Transfer of Marine Technology;
161. Also recalls that in “The future we want”, States urged the identification
and mainstreaming by 2014 of strategies that further assist developing countries, in
particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in
developing their national capacity to conserve, sustainably manage and realize the
benefits of sustainable fisheries, including through improved market access for fish
products from developing countries;
162. Encourages increased capacity-building and technical assistance by States,
international financial institutions and relevant intergovernmental organizations and
bodies for fishers, in particular small-scale fishers, in developing countries, and in
particular small island developing States, consistent with environmental sustainability,
in recognition of the fact that food security and livelihoods may depend on fisheries;
163. Encourages States to cooperate closely, directly or through the United
Nations system, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, with a view to enhancing capacity-building of developing States, and in
particular small island developing States, in the field of fisheries through education
and training;
164. Recognizes, in this regard, the work of the United Nations University
Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland, which has contributed for 15 years to
capacity-building in this field in developing countries, graduated 280 fellows from
47 countries and, in addition, held 36 short courses in 12 countries;
165. Encourages the international community to enhance the opportunities for
sustainable development in developing countries, in particular the least developed
countries, small island developing States and coastal African States, by encouraging
greater participation of those States in authorized fisheries activities being
undertaken within areas under their national jurisdiction, in accordance with the
Convention, by distant-water fishing nations in order to achieve better economic
returns for developing countries from their fisheries resources within areas under
their national jurisdiction and an enhanced role in regional fisheries management, as
well as by enhancing the ability of developing countries to develop their own
fisheries, as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such
fisheries, in conformity with international law, in particular the Convention and the
Agreement, and taking into account article 5 of the Code;
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