General Assembly Urges Action To Protect World’s Fish Stocks
New York, Dec 8 2006 7:00PM
Responding to the depletion of fish stocks and degradation of fragile marine habitats in many parts of the world, the
United Nations General Assembly today <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/ga10551.doc.htm">called on States to take immediate action to reverse the situation and protect vulnerable deep sea ecosystems.
Adopting a consensus resolution on sustainable fisheries, the Assembly called on all States to act in a precautionary
manner and apply an “ecosystem approach” to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks.
The resolution also expressed the Assembly’s particular concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
constituted 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 poorer ones.
States were encouraged to take measures to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, and to
facilitate mutual assistance to investigations and punishment as needed.
The adoption of the resolution followed a two-day debate on the issue, with nearly three dozen countries participating.
Over half – 52 per cent – of global fish stocks are fully exploited, while overexploited and depleted species have
increased from about 10 per cent in the mid 1970s to 24 per cent in 2002, according to a study, ‘Ecosystems and
Biodiversity in Deep Waters and High Seas’, which was issued jointly by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and
theᾠWorld Conservῡtion Union (IUCN) earlier this year.
Ends