Overview - Convention & Related Agreements

Review Conference on the 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

(New York, 22 to 26 May 2006, 24 to 28 May 2010, 23 to 27 May 2016 and 22 to 26 May 2023)

Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/118, the Review Conference on the 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 (the Agreement) will be resumed at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 22 to 26 May 2023.

Background

The Agreement was adopted on 4 August 1995 by the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and opened for signature on 4 December 1995. It entered into force on 11 December 2001. Pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, and in accordance with paragraph 16 of General Assembly resolution 59/25, the Secretary-General convened a review conference on the Agreement four years after its entry into force.

The Review Conference, held in New York from 22 to 26 May 2006, was mandated to assess the effectiveness of the Agreement in securing the conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks by reviewing and assessing the adequacy of its provisions and, if necessary, proposing means of strengthening the substance and methods of implementation of those provisions in order better to address any continuing problems in the conservation and management of those stocks.

The Review Conference was subsequently resumed at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 24 to 28 May 2010, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 63/112 of 5 December 2008 and resolution 64/72 of 4 December 2009, and from 23 to 27 May 2016, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 70/75.

Side events

Side events can be organized during lunchtime at the Review Conference: information can be found here

Review Conference Information

Report of the resumed Review Conference on the 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, Prepared by the President of the Conference

Letter dated 29 August 2023 from the President of the resumed Review Conference on the 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 addressed to the President of the General Assembly

Agenda

Provisional organization of work of the resumed Review Conference in 2023

Credentials of representatives of participating States in the resumed Review Conference on the 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: Report of the Credentials Committee

Report of the Secretary-General to the resumed Review Conference in 2023

Advance and unedited reporting material regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conference in 2016

FAO 2023 Overview of the status of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks

Tables on the status of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks

Report on the status of the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the 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: Note by the Secretariat

Report the sixteenth round of Informal Consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement

Additional responses to the voluntary questionnaire sent to States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conference on the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement in 2016

Report of the fifteenth round of Informal Consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement

Delegations to the resumed Review Conference, New York, 22-26 May 2023 (Provisional list)

Information for participants

Background information on the resumed Review Conference

Written statements and other material submitted for information by observers

Additional background information

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1)
Website of the Informal Consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
Website of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (General Assembly resolution 72/249)


LINKS: THE AGREEMENT \| STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT \| informal consultations OF states PARTIES \| GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS \| REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES \| ASSISTANCE FUND
DOCUMENTS OF THE REVIEW CONFERENCE (2016)
A/71/391	Letter dated 19 September 2016 from the President of the resumed Review Conference on the 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 addressed to the President of the General Assembly	English	Français	Español
A/71/391		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/5	Report of the resumed Review Conference on the 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, Prepared by the President of the Conference	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/5		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/4	Credentials of representatives of participating States in the resumed Review Conference on the 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: Report of the Credentials Committee	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/4		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/3	Agenda	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/3	Agenda	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/INF/1	Delegations to the resumed Review Conference, New York, 23-27 May 2016	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/INF/1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/2	Report on the status of the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the 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 - Note by the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/2		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/1	Report submitted to the resumed Review Conference in accordance with paragraph 41 of General Assembly resolution 69/109 to assist it in discharging its mandate under article 36 (2) of the Agreement - Report of the Secretary-General	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2016/L.2	Draft organization of work of the resumed Review Conference in 2016	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2016/L.2		Arabic	Chinese	Russian

DOCUMENTS OF THE REVIEW CONFERENCE (2010)
A/65/528	Letter dated 13 October 2010 from the President of the Review Conference addressed to the President of the General Assembly transmitting the final report of the resumed Review Conference	English	Français	Español
A/65/528		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/INF/2	Delegations to the Review Conference, New York, 24-28 May 2010	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/7	Report of the resumed Review Conference on the 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	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/7		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/6	Note verbale dated 20 May 2010 from the Permanent Missions of Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/6		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/5	Credentials of representatives of participating States in the resumed Review Conference on the 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	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/5		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/4	Organization of work	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/4	Organization of work	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/3	Agenda	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/3	Agenda	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/INF/1	Compilation of the recommendations adopted at the Review Conference in 2006 and information on the extent to which the recommendations have been implemented by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements - Note by the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/INF/1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/2	Financial report on the status of the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the 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 - Note by the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/2		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2010/1	Report submitted to the resumed Review Conference in accordance with paragraph 32 of General Assembly resolution 63/112 to assist it in discharging its mandate under article 36, paragraph 2, of the Agreement - Report of the Secretary-General	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2010/1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian

DOCUMENTS OF THE REVIEW CONFERENCE (2006)
The Review Conference, convened pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, was held in New York, from 22 to 26 May 2006, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 59/25 of 17 November 2004 and resolution 60/31 of 29 November 2005. The outcome of the Review Conference (A/CONF.210/2006/15, annex) included a set of recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Agreement. The Review Conference decided to suspend the meeting and keep the Agreement under review through the resumption of the Review Conference at a date not later than 2011.

A/CONF.210/2006/INF/1	Delegations to the Review Conference, New York, 22-26 May 2006	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/15	Report of the Review Conference on the 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	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/15		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/14	Second Report of the Credentials Committee	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/14	Second Report of the Credentials Committee	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/13	Report of the Credentials Committee	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/13	Report of the Credentials Committee	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/12	Note verbale Dated 22 May 2006 from the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/12		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/11	Agenda of the Conference	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/11	Agenda of the Conference	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/10	Note verbale dated 12 April 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/10		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/9	Note verbale dated 31 March 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Namibia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/9		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/8	Note verbale dated 31 March 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/8		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/7	Note verbale dated 31 March 2006 from the Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/7		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/6	Provisional rules of procedure of the Review Conference	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/6	Provisional rules of procedure of the Review Conference	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/5	Elements for assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Agreement	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/5		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/4	Organization of work - Framework questions	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/4	Organization of work - Framework questions	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/3	Provisional agenda	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/3	Provisional agenda	Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/2	Financial report on the status of the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the 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 - Note by the Secretariat	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/2		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/1/Corr.1	Report submitted in accordance with paragraph 17 of General Assembly resolution 59/25 of 17 November 2004, to assist the Review Conference to implement its mandate under paragraph 2, article 36 of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement - Report of the Secretary-General - Corrigendum	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/1/Corr.1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian
A/CONF.210/2006/1	Report submitted in accordance with paragraph 17 of General Assembly resolution 59/25 of 17 November 2004, to assist the Review Conference to implement its mandate under paragraph 2, article 36 of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement - Report of the Secretary-General	English	Français	Español
A/CONF.210/2006/1		Arabic	Chinese	Russian

submission of information and views (2006)

Background information

The United Nations 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 provides the legal regime for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks. The Agreement requires coastal States and States fishing on the high seas to adopt conservation and management measures based on the best scientific evidence available in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fish stocks.

The Agreement requires the application of the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as compatibility of measures established for the high seas and those adopted for areas under national jurisdiction. The Agreement emphasizes the crucial role of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements as mechanisms for international cooperation concerning straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks.

In addition, the Agreement recognizes the importance of monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement in fisheries governance and provides for a strengthening of the duties of the flag State and cooperation in enforcement, including through high seas boarding and inspection.

The special requirements of developing countries in relation to conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks are recognized by the Agreement, and an Assistance Fund has been established to assist developing States Parties in the implementation of the Agreement.

The Agreement shall be interpreted and applied in the context of and in a manner consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Agreement was adopted on 4 August 1995 by the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and entered into force on 11 December 2001. As at 1 April 2010, there are 77 parties to the Agreement.

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