LE PRESIDENT: Le point 6 concerne les faits nouveaux survenus récemment dans le domaine des pêches internationales. Ce point nous est soumis pour examen et éventuellement pour décision - le terme "éventuellement" étant superfétatoire, en ce sens que nous aurons des décisions à prendre.
Nous sommes saisis de deux documents: les documents 102/19 et 102/20 intitulés respectivement: "Faits nouveaux survenus récemment dans le domaine des pêches internationales - la pêche responsable" et "Faits nouveaux survenus récemment dans le domaine des pêches internationales - Régime juridique de la pêche en haute mer".
Je voudrais tout d'abord rappeler qu'en vertu du document CL 102/INF/19, il s'agit d'un domaine de la compétence de la Communauté économique européenne et que le droit de parole et le droit de vote se trouvent entre les mains de la Communauté puisqu'il s'agit d'une matière de compétence exclusive. La question sera peut-être d'ailleurs soulevée à propos de la situation plus précise de la France et du Royaume-Uni en ce qui concerne leur droit de parole et de vote pour des territoires qui ne sont pas situés en Europe.
C'est un problème complexe que le Comité des questions constitutionnelles et juridiques connaît bien et que le Conseiller juridique de notre Organisation, M. Moore, connaît mieux encore.
Avant de passer la parole au Sous-Directeur général du Département des pêches, je voudrais vous rappeler que les pêches ont fait l'objet d'un long examen lors de la 99ème session du Conseil de la FAO qui s'est tenue du 10 au
21 juin 1991, sur la base du rapport de la dix-neuvième session du Comité des pêches qui a eu lieu en avril 1991.
Le rapport du Conseil, qui est extrêmement complet, fait état de la situation en ses paragraphes 103 à 117. Un certain nombre de faits nouveaux sont intervenus depuis 1991, faits nouveaux qui ont abouti à deux documents. Pourquoi deux documents? Vous vous souviendrez que nous avions décidé de discuter de ces deux documents - le 19 et le 20 - ensemble. Nous traiterons donc les deux sous-points en une seule et même discussion. En effet, il s'agit de sujets qui sont étroitement liés et la séparation des deux documents est due au fait qu'ils se réfèrent à deux réunions qui se sont tenues dans un intervalle de quatre mois. C'est la raison pour laquelle le document 102/20 vous a été distribué tout récemment.
Je voudrais signaler que le point 6.1 a, conformément au Règlement général de notre Organisation, été présenté à la demande du Mexique en application de l'article XXV paragraphe 7(b) qui stipule que: "tout membre du Conseil peut, trente jours au moins avant la date prévue pour une session, demander au Directeur général d'inscrire une question à l'ordre du jour provisoire". Le Mexique a donc demandé que soient examinés au cours de cette session le problème des pêches et notamment les résultats de la très importante Conférence internationale sur la pêche responsable, organisée au Mexique, à Cancún, du 6 au 8 mai 1992 en consultation avec la FAO.
Le second document, c'est-à-dire le point 6.2 (CL 102/20) a été ajouté par le Secrétariat en raison de son étroite relation avec le premier sous-point: déclaration de Cancún, et la nécessité pour le Conseil d'examiner un certain nombre de questions de nature politique, dérivant directement de la Consultation technique sur la pêche en haute mer organisée par la FAO à Rome du 7 au 15 septembre 1992. De nombreuses questions, de nature technique, restent en suspens et devront donc être discutées ultérieurement par le Comité des pêches qui se réunira en mars 1993.
Les questions principales qui nous sont soumises concernent le Code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable. L'examen de cette proposition concernant ce code international de conduite, a fait l'objet d'un examen approfondi dont la déclaration de Cancún fait état.
Il appartiendra à notre Conseil d'entreprendre les actions préparatoires à l'élaboration de ce code et normalement lors de la réunion de mars 1993 du Comité des pêches (COFI), les premières propositions concernant le contenu technique de ce code et les procédures pour sa préparation, son élaboration et sa mise en vigueur seront présentées.
Le second point pour lequel l'avis de notre Conseil nous parait indispensable, c'est la préparation d'une Conférence internationale des Nations Unies sur la pêche en haute mer. Le Conseil, en juin 1991, ainsi que la Conférence de 1991 ont recommandé que notre consultation technique sur la pêche en haute mer soit suivie d'une consultation gouvernementale ad hoc.
La convocation d'une réunion internationale a été discutée à Cancún et à Rio de Janeiro où la CNUED, au point 21 de son ordre du jour, recommande qu'une conférence sur le même sujet soit organisée sous les auspices des Nations Unies avec la contribution technique et scientifique de la FAO. Nous aurons l'occasion d'en reparler mais il nous parait important que sur ce point
précis les avis du Conseil puissent être présentés lors des discussions qui se dérouleront à New York aux Nations Unies.
La troisième question concerne le changement de pavillon des bateaux de pêche. C'est une question complexe mais qui suscitera vraisemblablement moins de controverses car la majorité des pays sont d'accord pour que des mesures soient prises à ce sujet.
La consultation technique à laquelle je fais allusion a souhaité que le prochain Comité des pêches se penche sur cette question et nous allons soumettre à l'approbation du Conseil l'organisation des préparatifs qui pourrait consister en la convocation d'un petit groupe d'experts qui se réunirait début 1993 pour apporter au COFI les éléments de discussion approfondie sur la question de changement de pavillon des bateaux de pêche. A la suite de ceux que je viens de citer, deux autres points sont soumis à l'avis du Conseil:
Le premier point est le renforcement du rôle des organismes régionaux et sous-régionaux des pêches, leur coopération et leur coordination. Le prochain Comité des pêches discutera du rôle de la FAO à ce sujet, et en particulier, décidera ou présentera au Conseil la proposition relative à l'organisation d'un forum pour la consultation entre ces différents organismes régionaux et sous -régionaux.
Le second point est le renforcement des capacités des pays en voie de développement pour leur participation à la pêche en haute mer.
Le Conseil soulignera probablement le fait que les organisations internationales et les donateurs s'intéressent à ce domaine.
Je pense qu'il était important de sérier les problèmes et je demanderai maintenant à tous les intervenants de se prononcer sur ces différentes questions.
W. KRONE (Assistant Director-General, a.i., Fisheries Department): I do not think I can match your introduction, Mr Chairman, which is. already very complete; but before summarizing some of the major conclusions and recommendations arising out of the two meetings which the Chairman has already briefly explained, allow me to give you some brief account of the current situation in world marine fisheries.
Ten years ago the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted. At that time the new convention meant the end of the era of freedom of fishing within 200 nautical miles, where 95 percent of the fishery resources were estimated to be found. The new era promised expectations for rational management and conservation of living marine resources and a retrenchment of fishing fleets.
Now, a decade later, a review of the situation indicates that the size of the world's fishing fleet has continued to increase at a rate estimated to be twice the increase of marine fish catches from the oceans. In most regions the maximum of fish production had already been reached in the early 1980s. Since then, production increases have mostly come from five shoaling small pelagic species subject to large year-to-year fluctuations. The major ground level stocks are over-exploited. It is now an undisputed fact that the overall
fishing pressure threatens the sustainability of fishery resources, and that applies to both fishery resources on the high seas as well as to many resources under national jurisdiction.
In a recent analysis of the costs and revenues in marine fishing, which will be published in the next SOFA report in a special chapter, we have come to alarming conclusions: the costs of harvesting the marine catches exceed their value by probably more than 50 percent. A reasonable return to the capital invested in fishing boats would consume almost one half of the annual revenue from marine fishing. But current landed values of marine fisheries do not even cover the operating costs, let alone some interest on the capital invested. These aggregate figures do not, of course, mean that all fisheries are losing money. Some are indeed still doing quite well. But if some are making profits, others will be even worse off. The situation survives only thanks to enormous subsidies.
We have, of course, to recognize that government fishery policies in some countries have rated the production of food from seas or the gaining of foreign exchange from fishery products as higher priority than the possible losses in economic terms associated with such policies. The production of protein from the seas was calculated to be cheaper than from land resources in a number of centrally planned economies. However, it is unlikely that such policies will be tenable in the future.
We have known for some time that most fishery resources are exploited at or beyond their maximum, and FAO has not spared any opportunity to point this out at many meetings and in many documents. But what we all did not clearly recognize until recently is that this high level of resource utilization is achieved with incredibly high costs and economic waste. The call for better management of marine fishery resources, both within national exclusive economic zones and on the high seas, cannot be loud enough. Fishing capacities have to be curtailed and they have to be curtailed quite drastically.
It can be roughly estimated that a reduction of fishing capacity by about 25 percent would not only decrease aggregate fishing costs by near to 50 percent, it would also result - after an adjusting period in which fish stocks could recuperate - in a increase in volume of catches and thus food supplies from marine fisheries, by perhaps 10 to 15 percent; it would certainly result in higher valued species and size composition of marine harvests. Marine fisheries would thus become profitable again.
Why is what seems so obvious not being done? Mr Chairman, the difficulties of reducing fishing effort and fleet sizes are well known to the fishery administrators and managers. The low level of income in many fishing activities makes the task particularly arduous, because of the immediate social and political implications. It is a situation which perpetuates itself, unless the vicious cycle is broken. If subsidies are necessary, the money might better be used to get people out of the business instead of keeping them in - at the very economic margin. The subsequent benefits will more than compensate for the subsidies paid.
Mr Chairman, it is against this background that the two events which I will now report briefly on have to be seen.
The Declaration of Cancún makes this very clear. Reiterating the importance of fishery products as a source of nutrition for the people of the world, it
recommends to the United Nations that the next ten years be declared the "Decade of Responsible Fishing" and it calls upon FAO to draft, in consultation with relevant international organizations, an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. It also underlines the inter-relationship of international fisheries and trade issues.
The Declaration of Cancún was adopted unanimously by the 66 countries represented, the majority, at ministerial level. His Excellency, the Minister of Fisheries of Mexico, already on Monday brought this Declaration to your attention, and I need not dwell on the further details of it. It is certainly a most important document for international fisheries and will accompany international discussions for a long time to come. We are seeking here your endorsement to go ahead with the request directed to FAO, that is, to elaborate on a draft International Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing. It would then be our intention to present to the next session of your Committee on Fisheries in March next year, first proposals for the possible technical content of such a code and procedures for its preparation, approval and implementation.
The second meeting I wish to report upon concerned a particularly burning issue of international fisheries, that of fishing on the high seas. While management of fisheries within national jurisdiction has often not been very effective, for the high seas there is not even an adequate mechanism for management existing. And the pressure of international fishing fleets has been mounting rapidly, because it is on the high seas where surplus capacities tend to move when there is no other opportunity. There is now increasing concern that high seas resources are not exploited in a sustainable manner and that unacceptable and irreversible environmental damage could occur. This is not so much a question of the type of fishing gear used but the amount of such gear chasing limited numbers of fish.
FAO has recognized the extent and depth of international concern for high seas fisheries management and first addressed the issue in the context of large-scale driftnet fishing. As a consequence of FAO's contribution to this debate and its role in helping to resolve the difficulties that had developed, your Council directed that we should continue to focus attention on broader issues associated with high seas fishing and instructed us to organize, in close collaboration with the UN Division on Ocean Affairs on the Laws of the Sea and concerned international fisheries organizations, and convene a Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing. This Technical Consultation was to be followed by an ad hoc government consultation.
The Technical Consultation held here in Rome in September reaffirmed that the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the principal legal framework for the development of a regime for high seas fishing. It dealt with a great number of very specific and partly very intricate technical and scientific issues, which will be reviewed and debated in detail at the next session of your Committee on Fisheries. It is not intended that we discuss these issues here, nor is it intended that we should approve or not approve the Report of the Technical Consultation. This is up to COFI and COFI will report to you next year in your June session. If we have felt it necessary already now to report to you on this meeting, it is because some specific policy issues require your immediate attention.
Firstly: the question of an International Conference on High Seas Fishing. The need for such a meeting has been confirmed by UNCED in its Agenda 21,
particularly with a view to promoting effective implementation of the provisions of the 1982 Convention on straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. It is recommended there that such a Conference should be convened under UN auspices, and that it should draw, inter alia, on scientific and technical studies by FAO. As I stated earlier, we have closely consulted with the UN Secretariat on the preparation of our Technical Consultation, which must be regarded as an important preparatory step to such a Conference, and thus we are prepared to continue such collaboration for the intergovernmental conference. It is understood that the current UN General Assembly will consider the modalities of holding such a intergovernmental conference in 1993. The discussions in New York are still at an early stage but a draft resolution, which is currently circulating in the corridors of UN Headquarters, suggests the holding of two sessions in 1993, the first one from 13 to 25 April to deal with matters relating to the organization of the Conference and the second one to be held from 19 to 30 July for the purpose of dealing with substantive matters and, as appropriate, considering its future work programme. It would seem that a fairly elaborate process of negotiations is foreseen. In the light of these developments, your Council may wish to reconsider its decision, taken at the Ninety-ninth Session in 1991, concerning the need for an FAO-sponsored intergovernmental consultation.
The second point I want to highlight is that the Consultation welcomed the Declaration of Cancún and the request to FAO to initiate the preparation of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. There was some discussion at the Technical Consultation whether such a code should be limited to high-seas fishing or whether it should also cover other aspects of responsible fishing and fisheries management. Perhaps this matter should be left for further discussions by your Committee on Fisheries when it considers details about the possible technical content of such a code. At this stage, Mr Chairman, we are requesting the endorsement of your Council, as already mentioned, to go ahead with further preparations in order to allow COFI to have a substantive and fruitful discussion on the matter.
The third point, also highlighted by you, Mr Chairman, was that there was very widespread concern about the growing habit of high seas fishing vessels, owners to reflag their boats as a means to avoid compliance with conservation and management measures and fair trade practices, and FAO was asked to study the matter, in consultation with UNCTAD and other international organizations concerned. We are requesting your agreement that we look into this matter and report to COFI about it and have COFI's recommendation on how to pursue this matter further.
Finally, the Consultation underlined some other policy issues, notably the need to strengthen the role of regional and sub-regional fishery bodies in high seas fisheries management and to enhance cooperation and coordination between such bodies. COFI will probably wish to consider the role of FAO in this respect, in particular whether FAO should provide a forum for closer consultation between these bodies. The last point and certainly not the least important, Mr Chairman, concerned the participation of developing countries in the exploitation of high seas fisheries resources. Your Council will certainly wish to express its views on the need to strengthen the capacities of developing countries to promote such participation.
LE PRESIDENT: Nous passons à la discussion générale de cette intéressante matière.
Armin LINDQUIST (Sweden): First of all, Mr Chairman, I wish to thank you for your very competent introduction. I specifically wish to thank my former colleague, Mr Krone, for the very detailed presentation of the problems which are complex.
Going right to the point, document CL 102/19 describes very well the background of the preparation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing.
As we see it, this is one of the most important exercises. We should also remember that this work has already started, namely the preparation of the background documentation for the Cancún Conference. This was at least partly carried out by the Fisheries Department of the FAO; so work has already started.
The Declaration of Cancún, which is very important and very detailed, calls upon FAO to draft such a code as you, Mr Chairman, have said will be most helpful, to provide guidelines for this work.
The inclusion by the Director-General of this work in the Programme of Work and Budget and in the Medium-Term Plan of the Organization is noted with great satisfaction.
Considering the findings of the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing, held here in Rome at FAO Headquarters in September, the Government of Sweden considers that the problem of reflagging fishing vessels, which is a special issue within the Code of Conduct, needs action urgently. In some parts of the world reflagging of fishing vessels is done with the obvious purpose of avoiding compliance with existing fishing regulations on the high seas. It is therefore advisable that the matter be handled by FAO separately from the Code of Conduct. This could be a more practical approach, as consultations are needed with UNCTAD and with the IMO. A special effort should be made by FAO and this should start in the near future.
One issue in the preparation of the Code of Conduct will be how one should proceed when scientific data are scarce or non-existent and how uncertainties should be handled in the context of management.
It seems that guidelines are needed. My Government is fully in agreement with Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration and envisages the need for more technical consultations and discussions.
The document before us draws attention to the important role of regional fishery bodies in implementing responsible fishing. For this, administrative and political action is needed. It is therefore recommended that meetings of regional fisheries bodies should be attended more than at present and also in the future by personalities with sufficient executive power.
My Government would appreciate a preliminary report on FAO's progress on the work with the Code of Conduct be given at the next session of the Committee on Fisheries in March 1993.
The issue of high seas fishing is of concern both to developed and to developing countries. High seas fishing is presently mostly unregulated, like all other fisheries management. It is noted that FAO has been in the forefront of finding ways on how to proceed on high seas issues, starting in 1990 with an expert consultation on large-scale pelagic driftnets.
The FAO Conference in November 1991 endorsed the holding of an ad hoc government consultation on high seas fishing. The Cancún Conference on responsible fishing calls upon the FAO to draft an International Code of Conduct which would become of great relevance to all fisheries, including those on the high seas. The Cancún Declaration also called upon states to resolve the problems which still existed at that time in convening an "Inter-Governmental Conference on High Seas Fisheries".
In Agenda 21 of UNCED it was agreed that an international conference under United Nation's auspices be convened. (See Chapter 17, programme area C). Of course, all those endorsements aim towards the same goal, i.e., to reach an international consensus on this important issue.
The Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing held in September here in Rome provides the necessary technical "backbone" for future considerations. The Swedish delegation is of the opinion that thus an important part of the present knowledge, which points to a great lack of data, is now available for the ensuing work, in one or more meetings.
Management of high seas fishing is one of the unresolved international issues. In this context, it should be recalled that the World Conference on Fisheries Management and Development was held in 1984 here in Rome and that this Conference unanimously adopted a strategy for fisheries management and development. It is the opinion of my Government that, considering the wide experience in this field and the expertise available at Headquarters, FAO should have the leading role in follow-up activities, and we request the Council to decide that the International Conference on High Seas Fishing be held at FAO Headquarters in Rome and be serviced by the FAO Secretariat, in close cooperation with other international organizations.
EL PRESIDENTE: Quisiera ahora entregar la palabra a la representante de los Estados Unidos de México. Ya oímos el lunes por la tarde al Sr. Jiménez Morales, Secretario de Estado de Pesca, quien nos introdujo la materia de la pesca responsable y quisiera agradecer especialmente a los Estados Unidos de México por la organización de esta importante Conferencia de Cancún y la Declaración, que he estudiado con mucha atención, y que me parece una base muy importante para el futuro de la pesca.
Sra. M. LIZARRAGA (México): Su introducción, Sr. Presidente, facilitami tarea y, desde luego, deseo también felicitar la excelente, extensa y clara presentación hecha por el Dr. Krone. Felicitamos también los documentos que han sido presentados por la Secretaría ya que de una manera breve dan cuenta de los resultados de dos eventos muy importantes. La Reunión de Cancún, que como ya fue expresado aquí, contó con una alta representatividad: sesenta y seis países con veintiocho ministros o funcionarios de pesca del más alto nivel, asi como la presencia de organismos gubernamentales y no gubernamentales que hacen a la Declaración de Cancún un instrumento con directrices válidas a organismos y países para hacer de la pesca una actividad cada día más importante para contribuir a los objetivos universales de asegurar la alimentación, la generación de empleo y bienestar basándola en el conocimiento y uso racional de los recursos pesqueros, para garantizar su sostenibilidad, la practica de la captura y la acuicultura a través de sistemas armónicos con el ambiente. Su transformación, que garantice el mantenimiento de la calidad y las prácticas comerciales que hagan que el
beneficio tanto de los distribuidores como los consumidores sea en un contexto socioeconómico justo.
De otra parte, y también en forma relacionada, se celebró en el seno de nuestra Organización en septiembre pasado, la Consulta de Expertos sobre Pesca en Alta Mar que permitió discutir en extenso una gran variedad de temas que conllevan, asimismo, a buscar el uso racional de los recursos migratorios y transzonales a través de prácticas responsables ratificando que la misma debe ser, sin menoscabo de los principios, preconizados por la CONVEMAR.
Mi delegación, Sr. Presidente, desea dar el completo apoyo a lo expresado en lo relativo a la Reunión sobre Pesca de Alta Mar por el distinguido delegado dé Suecia. Mi pais preconiza en todos los foros el diálogo y la concertación como forma para conciliar ideas e intereses. Los recursos naturales y su ambiente pueden, y deben ser utilizados bajo esquemas de ordenación y desarrollo que permitan que las generaciones actuales y venideras las aprovechen para su bienestar. Por ello, debemos convenir reglas y prácticas en un contexto multilateral, y en pesca el único foro verdaderamente multilateral y universal es el de nuestra Organización. Razón por la que apelamos a que sea aqui donde lleguemos a todos los acuerdos a nivel de todos los elementos que conforman la cadena de la actividad pesquera, desde el recurso y su ambiente, pasando por los sistemas de captura y transformación, y las prácticas justas de mercadeo válidas para todos y en todas las áreas, evidentemente, con sus propias características según el caso.
Como lo expresara aquí nuestro Secretario de Estado de Pesca en la reunión inicial de esta Sesión del Consejo, el Gobierno de México, apoyando la iniciativa definida por nuestros países en el seno del COFI la impulsó a través de la Reunión de Cancún sobre Pesca Responsable apoyando y apoyándose en nuestra Organización, a la que reiteramos todos nuestro mayor reconocimiento. Creemos que esta forma de reconocimiento y apoyo mutuo permitiría avanzar en muchos temas que requieren de mayor impulso.
Dicho esto, Sr. Presidente, y dado que nuestro Secretario de Pesca hizo una presentación en extenso sobre el tema, me limitaré a ratificar la solicitud para que este Consejo endose la Declaración de Cancún y dé el mandato al Director General para que formalmente se elabore el Código de Conducta sobre Pesca Responsable y formalice a través de los conductos apropiados las negociaciones para su aprobación e implementación. El Dr Krone ha dado una explicación muy detallada dé cómo estos mecanismos pueden ser ejecutados.
Finalmente, Sr. Presidente, deseamos que este Consejo recomiende también a lös Comités del Programa y de Finanzas un mayor apoyo a los Programas de Pesca para que el Departamento pueda cumplir con su valioso apoyo a los países en esta importante tarea.
M.S. GILL (India): The Indian delegation fully shares the concerns detailed in the Council documents CL 102/19 and CL 102/20 underlining the urgent need for the establishment of principles and guidelines for responsible fishing and an equitable regime of high sea fishing consistent with sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources. We acknowledge the need for raising the current global fisheries output through better management of resources, using low value fish for human consumption as well as for animal feed, and developing rural aquaculture to generate incomes for fishing communities. India is implementing the Bay of Bengal Project for the benefit of small
scale fishing communities in the fields of post-harvest technologies, marketing support, brackish water aquaculture, and extension of production technologies.
The vital issues concerning excessive exploitation of straddling stocks, excess fishing capacity, improved fishing practices and conservation of marine genetic resources have been recently discussed in the International Conference on Responsible Fishing at Cancún, Mexico. India actively participated in the deliberations of that Conference and strongly commends the Cancún Declaration for implementation. The proposal before the Council today to include in the Programme of Work and Budget 1993-94 and the Medium-Term Plan the arrangement for preparation of a draft of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing is in consonance with the recommendations of the Cancún Declaration and fully deserves our support.
We are also glad to note that UNCED in June 1992 took note of the Cancún Declaration and has recommended action in Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 in regard to sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources of the high seas.
The Indian delegation, taking note of the UNCED proposal for a UN intergovernmental conference on straddling stocks and migratory species, feels that FAO needs to provide full technical support for the convening of such a conference under UN auspices.
India participated in the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing held in Rome in September 1992 to discuss technical and scientific issues in the management of high seas fisheries. We support the conclusions of the Consultation and urge expeditious action, particularly in regard to enhancing developing countries' capabilities, international cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels, the setting up of a high seas regime and the preparation of a code of conduct for responsible fishing.
CHAIRMAN: I thank the distinguished representative of India for his very interesting intervention and for the clear answers to the different questions.
Frank BUCHHOLZ (United States of America): Increasing demands have been placed on living marine resources on the high seas following the development of the coastal state 200 nautical mile zone regime under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Several high seas living marine resource conservation and/or management regimes or agreements have been developed in recent years to help manage more effectively this important food resource. In addition, conferences such as the UN Conference on Environment and Development and the International Conference on Responsible Fishing held in Cancún, Mexico, have sought to lay the groundwork for an even more effective fisheries management regime.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the international community has witnessed a growing threat to the integrity of the multilateral regime being established for the conservation and management of living marine resources. Fishing vessels flying the flag of a country party to such an arrangement have increasingly reflagged to non-contracting countries to avoid the fishing restrictions which would otherwise apply.
This problem has been addressed in a number of international fora. For example, at the 45th UN General Assembly, in 1990, the General Assembly expressed concern about reports of reflagging of vessels by some private fishing interests which is contrary to the spirit and intent of earlier UN General Assembly resolutions on driftnet fishing. In the Agenda 21 Oceans Chapter, adopted at the UNCED meeting, the participants noted that states should take effective action to deter fishing-vessel reflagging by their nationals who may seek to avoid compliance with high seas fishing conservation and management rules. Both the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (November 1991) and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (June 1992) have adopted resolutions calling for measures to prevent the reflagging of vessels to avoid conservation measures.
In the Declaration of Cancún issued at the conclusion of the International Conference on Responsible Fishing, the problem of reflagging was addressed in the following words: "States should take effective action, consistent with international law, to deter reflagging of vessels as a means of avoiding compliance with applicable conservation and management rules for fishing activities on the high seas."
Finally, at FAO's Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing, the participants agreed that there is an urgent need to address this problem. The consultation recommended that the issue be brought to the attention of the FAO's Committee on Fisheries for the Committee to consider means through which an international agreement could be reached as quickly as possible to prevent the reflagging of vessels for the purpose of noncompliance with internationally agreed conservation and management regimes for high seas fisheries.
The Committee on Fisheries will meet next March. The United States recommends that the Council take note of the recommendations of the Technical Consultation and request the Committee's assistance in dealing with this problem. For example, the Committee could facilitate the necessary international cooperation consistent with its terms of reference under Rule XXX 6.(b) of the General Rules which authorizes it to "conduct periodic general reviews of fishery problems of an international character and appraise such problems and their possible solutions with a view to concerted actions by nations, by FAO, and by other intergovernmental bodies."
Such a general review and appraisal of possible solutions to the high seas reflagging problem could include consideration of the following:
(a) Collection and sharing of information concerning the nature and extent of the problem;
(b) Development of information programs to advise fishermen and marine fishery management and enforcement entities of the problem and to enlist their assistance in resolving it; and
(c) Implementation of preventive and remedial measures where appropriate, including considering the desirability of holding a technical conference of FAO members to prepare and submit to FAO's membership an international convention under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution that addresses the reflagging problem on a long-term basis.
The reflagging problem is one of great urgency for many nations, including my own. In discussing with members of the Secretariat the requirements for using the FAO structure as a forum for developing an international convention on this issue, it became apparent that even though we have one year before the next conference, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for a technical conference to negotiate a suitable text and for the Committee on Fisheries, the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters, the Council, and the Conference to take the required actions prior to the 28th Conference in 1995. To help shorten this time frame, in the hope of approving an agreement at the 27th Conference in 1993, my Government believes that this Council should authorize the Director-General to convene a technical conference, as provided for in Article VI.5 of the Constitution, to develop a draft agreement dealing with the reflagging problem once the Committee on fisheries has recommended that a technical conference be convened for this purpose. Such a technical conference should be held as soon after the next meeting of the Committee on Fisheries as possible.
In the paper prepared by the Secretariat on this issue, there is the suggestion that the problem of reflagging might initially be considered by a small group of experts convened by FAO in collaboration with the UN Conference on Trade and Development and other international organizations concerned. Given the fact that experts have considered this item at the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing and in other fora, and have recommended an international convention to address the reflagging problem, my delegation questions the necessity of such an expert group. If such a group is established, however, we would strongly urge that it conclude its review of this problem prior to the meeting of the Committee on Fisheries which is being held March 15-19, 1993. I would add at this point that I note from Mr Krone's remarks earlier that this is, in fact, the intention of FAO.
Further, my Government would like to endorse the proposal of the Secretariat that the intergovernmental consultation referred to in paragraph 2 of document CL 102/20 be cancelled in light of the proposed UN intergovernmental conference on straddling stocks and highly migratory species. My Government can also support the recommendation contained in CL 102/20 that FAO initiate the preparation of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing as long as such preparations do not prejudice or preempt the outcome of the Code nor conflict with the post-UNCED UN intergovernmental conference or the UNGA activity related to it.
In conclusion, I believe that we were all impressed by the eloquence of the Secretary of State for Fisheries of Mexico, Guillermo Jimenez Morales, in drawing our attention to the urgent necessity for multilateral action to manage our fisheries resources better. We recognize that reflagging is but one of many issues that need to be addressed. We would stress, however, that the need for effective means to prevent the reflagging of vessels to avoid high seas conservation and/or management programs is a prerequisite for the creation of an effective management regime. It is also an issue on which there is a great deal of international consensus. FAO should proceed as quickly as possible to help the international community resolve this problem.
That concludes my prepared remarks, Mr Chairman, but you have raised as has the Swedish delegation, the question of FAO's role in the upcoming UNCED process. I believe that FAO has already a full plate before it. It may well have to deal with preparations for the International Code of Conduct and, of course, we would like it to deal with this reflagging issue. It also has to
deal with its normal workload which is considerable, particularly in the fisheries area.
Secondly, I think it would be inappropriate for the Council to try to undo a decision which was reached last June by UNCED which limited FAO to the scientific and technical role which was outlined in the UNCED documents. Therefore, I believe that we should not expand FAO's role in the UNCED process beyond that which has already been agreed to. Ultimately, of course, the decision is with the General Assembly in New York.
LE PRESIDENT: Je vous remercie de votre intervention. Concernant la conférence technique, il me parait possible de la prévoir entre le Comité des pêches et le prochain Conseil de juin 1993.
Par ailleurs, il sera tenu compte des dernières remarques qui ont été formulées. Les avis du Conseil seront transmis bien entendu aux instances responsables des Nations Unies qui seront amenées à prendre les décisions qui s'imposent.
Saleh SADIQ OSMAN (Tanzania): Thank you, Mr Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to intervene at this time on the subject of Developments in the Field of International Fisheries Regime of High Seas Fishing. May I assure you that my delegation gives full support to the Cancún Declaration made in May 1992. My delegation also supports and commends the conclusion reached by the Technical Consultation held in Rome in September 1992. We are pessimistic that technical work in this field could result in the elaboration of guidelines which would lead to a Code of Conduct on Fishing Practices, thus contributing to the rational utilization and management of living resources, including those of the high seas.
Although fisheries resources are a renewable resource, if we are not going to be careful in its exploitation we will find ourselves in the pathetic situation of over-exploitation, or even going to the extent of depletion. Therefore, we need to be very careful in the exploitation of these resources. We would only be able to plan proper measures if we were able to know the existing straddling stocks in our waters. It is obvious that stock assessment needs to be carried out and this can be done with donor assistance in the following manner:
(i) strengthening of our fisheries data collection and processing them properly in order to highlight the stock situation; and
(ii) acoustic surveys which are then checked by random fishing sampling surveys would highlight the situation.
With all due respect, if we were able to get this information, only then would we be able to plan and manage our fisheries resources in the manner which would be sustainable.
Another comment we would like to make is about the importance of monitoring, surveillance and control of our resources. Although this has been mentioned in the Cancún Declaration, I find it better to stress this point again. We know that this exercise is capital intensive and no country within the developing countries can afford to do this exercise without donor assistance.
Therefore, may I suggest that efforts be made to merge our resources and forces at a regional and sub-regional level to afford proper monitoring, surveillance and control exercises. We, therefore, kindly request FAO to consider this option and, if needs be to design a system which would be more effective in developing and strengthening monitoring, surveillance and control. As you know, Mr Chairman, we have a problem of poachers in our waters. They really benefit from our resources.
Another point which needs to be considered is getting the necessary advice and support on the issue of Joint Venture Cooperation, as well as assistance in the drafting of fair contracts with nations which need to have access to our fisheries resources. This would not only improve the economic situation, but would also improve the technical and social aspects of our people.
Lastly, I should like to stress and emphasize the important role of regional and sub-regional fisheries bodies and the need to strengthen their function in high seas fisheries management, and to enhance cooperation and coordination between such bodies. We also think it is important to strengthen the capacities of developing countries to participate in high seas fishing.
A.N.M. EUSUF (Bangladesh): Mr Chairman, firstly may I thank you for your very interesting introductory remarks, and also the detailed introduction made by the Assistant Director-General.
Modern fisheries have changed so drastically during the past few decades that the traditional procedures and techniques of management are no longer valid. Although the improved technologies for exploitation of the resources are developing at a rapid pace, the growing demand of the ever-increasing human population and degradation of the environment due to man-induced stresses have frustrated all attempts to maintain the resources at the optimum level of productivity. A major shift in the policy issues and management approaches is therefore imperative.
The reshaping of the global system embodied in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea has been the most important event in recent years in the field of fisheries. The new region of the ocean has cast new responsibilities on the coastal states. They have not only to strive for rational and optimum exploitation of the fishery resources within their jurisdiction, but also to ensure that adequate measures are taken to conserve it.
The declining growth rate in marine fish landings coupled with the rising human population is widening the gap between supply and demand of fish, still the most important source of animal protein for the teeming millions of the world. According to an estimate, the gap between supply and demand will be of the order of 20 million tons by the turn of the century. This is a challenge which has to be faced with concerted efforts on a global basis.
The process of urbanization has seriously threatened the age-long equilibrium of the coastal environment and created massive pollution, thus impairing the ecosystem. While we must look for a more rational exploitation, the paramount need is to conserve the aquatic habitat, and this must be the guiding factor in the world fishing policy.
Broadly, our preparations for entering the new century should include sustainable yield, reduction of wastage, raising the nutritional level of the
people of developing countries, making fish rearing and fishing more energy-efficient, developing fish culture in marine and freshwater and last but not least improving the lot of the fishing community, more so of the traditional fishermen. With the momentum in the pace of exploitation, conflicts between artisanal and industrial fishing are bound to crop up. It will need careful handling.
Conservation of the resources and abatement of various sources of contamination are the major issues. Fishing is not man's only activity in the sea. Increasingly, other activities will keep on impacting the fish stocks. Oil and minerals are being searched for on the continental shelf and slope. Estuaries are being used for a variety of industrial and recreational activities. Aquatic environments are being used indiscriminately for disposal of industrial and human waste. Our knowledge to combat such problems is rather primitive. In-depth studies are required to deal with the problems so that fisheries can sustain in such environments through control of sources of pollution.
Conservation of the fish genetic resources is an evolutionary responsibility. Already many species have been declared threatened and endangered. For conservation of fish stocks, the spheres of responsibilities have to be allocated between the scientists, the politicians and the people. To promote development without destruction, environmental sensitivity has to be inculcated in people through education.
Although a variety of regulations governing use of aquatic resources are promulgated, there is considerable difficulty in monitoring subsequent activities of the user groups so as to ensure adherence to regulations. The application of gear or effort restrictions is extremely difficult in developing countries like Bangladesh where fishing is the main source of livelihood of more than a million fishermen. Total restriction on many of the destructive gears cannot be carried out effectively without an appropriate rehabilitation programme of those fisher-folk against whom such measures are proposed.
International enforcement of regulations is even more difficult. Coastal fishermen frequently complain about foreign vessels operating off their coasts inconsistent with conservation principles. Even when bilateral or multilateral agreements can be made between the concerned parties, more often than not there is no method to monitor and ensure that agreements are being honoured. The existing system is not working and important issues need to be resolved. There is a need to establish a legal order for managing man's activities on the sea so as to create a more harmonious relationship among the users of the resources.
Bangladesh's traditional fishing sector is its main strength. Fishing effort is a very low-cost one since a major share of the catch comes without using any fuel.
The main cost of the operation is human labour. Therefore, the new approach has to take into consideration maximum social and economic benefits to the resources users from producers to consumers, besides the maintenance of the resources at an economic level of productivity. The new approach has to address the biological, environmental and socio-economic problems with close cooperation and coordination on a global basis.
On the whole an integrated multidisciplinary approach is required to deal with the complex problems so that fisheries can survive in harmony with other uses of the aquatic resources and so that harvests are optimized within safe biological and economic limits. Today's foundations would help posterity to face the challenges of their times boldly.
Mustapha-Menouar SINACEUR (Maroc): C'est la première intervention du Maroc au cours des travaux de cette session, sur un sujet d'importance qui appelle de la part des membres du Conseil sinon une décision, du moins des orientations très précises à l'endroit du Secrétariat de la FAO. A cette occasion, j'aimerais vous dire, Monsieur le Président, combien nous nous réjouissons de vous voir présider nos travaux et j'aimerais, par la même occasion, féliciter les membres du bureau pour leur élection.
Nous avons écouté l'introduction faite par M. Krone des deux sujets présentés et nous le remercions. Le Maroc a pris une part active à la Conférence internationale sur la pêche responsable, qui s'est tenue à Cancún au Mexique, du 6 au 8 mai 1992, et nous partageons pleinement la déclaration qui en a découlé. Pour notre part, nous ferons tout ce qui est dans nos possibilités pour donner un terrain d'application aux principales décisions qui ont été prises au cours de cette réunion. Cette conférence a constitué une nouvelle étape dans la voie de la mise en place des mesures et moyens adéquats pour la préservation des ressources halieutiques, notamment l'élaboration d'un Code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable. Cette conférence a été le fruit d'une réflexion à l'échelon mondial sur les actions à entreprendre en vue d'assurer l'aménagement et le développement durables des pêcheries mondiales, engagées sous l'impulsion des recommandations de la Conférence de la FAO sur les pêches qui a eu lieu en 1984.
Le Maroc a pris de nombreuses mesures d'aménagement et de préservation de ses ressources halieutiques en haute mer, et a acquis une expérience appréciable dans ce domaine. Il est entièrement disposé à partager son modeste capital d'expérience et à participer, comme ce fut le cas à Cancún, à tous travaux sur cette importante question en vue d'aller de l'avant dans la voie de l'instauration d'un Code international de conduite pour une pêche véritablement responsable.
A cet effet, nous soutenons le Directeur général de la FAO dans la mise en place de ce Code de conduite et nous invitons le Conseil à lui donner tous les moyens nécessaires pour s'acquitter convenablement de cette tâche.
Nous appuyons l'inclusion, dans le Programme de travail et budget et dans le Plan à moyen terme de 1994-1999 de la FAO, des arrangements qui pourront être pris pour la préparation d'un projet de Code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable en collaboration, bien entendu, avec les organisations internationales compétentes.
Le Maroc souhaite également la contribution des Etats intéressés. Les consultations techniques, par exemple, telles que celles organisées par la FAO sur la pêche en haute mer, sont à notre avis des initiatives enrichissantes.
S'agissant du régime de la pêche en haute mer, il convient de souligner que cela fait actuellement l'objet d'une réflexion engagée par la Communauté internationale et concerne des aspects divers de la recherche scientifique, des statistiques, de l'aménagement, des institutions, du régime juridique de
la pêche, ainsi que de la participation des pays en voie de développement à l'exploitation des ressources biologiques de la haute mer.
La dernière consultation technique organisée en septembre par la FAO à ce sujet a permis de faire avancer le débat sur l'ensemble de ces questions et de recueillir davantage d'informations techniques, scientifiques et juridiques concernant cette question.
Le Maroc, pays en voie de développement, possède un secteur des pêches maritimes en pleine expansion. Soucieux de la préservation des ressources halieutiques, aussi bien à l'intérieur de sa zone exclusive qu'en haute mer, il entend contribuer de manière constructive pour la réussite de cette réflexion afin d'aboutir à des solutions adéquates et conciliantes entre les intérêts en présence.
S'agissant du document CL 102/20, et précisément du paragraphe 8 et des cinq questions sur lesquelles le Secrétariat attire l'attention des membres du Conseil, j'aimerais vous dire que s'agissant de la recommandation selon laquelle la FAO devrait entreprendre la préparation d'un Code international de conduite, nous nous sommes déjà exprimés à ce sujet et nous appuyons pleinement cette recommandation.
S'agissant de la question importante du changement de pavillon des navires péchant en haute mer, nous avons écouté la proposition qui nous a été faite ce matin qu'une réunion d'experts se tiendrait, au début de 1993, pour se pencher sur cette question et être en mesure de faire un rapport conséquent à la prochaine session du COFI qui se tiendra en mars. Nous appuyons donc cette proposition.
Concernant le petit alinéa 4 relatif au rôle important des organismes régionaux et sous-régionaux, nous souscrivons également à cette recommandation et nous considérons que pour le dernier alinéa il y a lieu d'inviter les pays développés à considérer les aspirations des pays en développement qui le souhaitent en vue de participer à l'exploitation des ressources biologiques de la haute mer et à leur fournir toute l'assistance requise.
S'agissant du premier alinéa, la première question qui a été soulevée dans ce paragraphe 8, nous avons écouté la déclaration du délégué de la Suède, qui a été reprise par notre collègue du Mexique, et nous pensons que pour cette question très importante, la décision prise par le Conseil a été très pertinente. Elle a d'ailleurs été approuvée par la Conférence et nous estimons que la FAO doit continuer à suivre de très près cette question, en collaboration directe bien sûr, surtout pour les questions juridiques, avec la direction compétente des Nations Unies, mais nous pensons néanmoins qu'il ne faudrait pas déplacer les débats qui intéressent notre Organisation dans d'autres enceintes, même si elles ont un caractère suprême. Nous sommes de l'avis qu'il faudrait agir de manière très prudente pour cette question et éviter que les Membres du Conseil soient amenés à revenir trop rapidement sur la décision prise à la 99ème session.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le représentant du Maroc des réponses très claires qu'il a données aux différentes questions qui ont été posées. Il a mentionné, à un moment donné, que le Conseil devait donner des orientations. Le Conseil en l'espèce doit donner plus que des orientations. Il est appelé à prendre un certain nombre de décisions, il faut être clair sur ce point. Votre avis est
demandé, et sur la base des avis donnés par les différents membres du Conseil, le Conseil a à prendre un certain nombre de décisions qui seront transmises aux instances compétentes.
Sra. Ana María NAVARRO ARRUE (Cuba): La delegación de Cuba agradece a la Secretaría la oportunidad de discutir en este 102 período de sesiones del Consejo de la FAO lo referente a las Novedades en el sector de la pesca internacional: Pesca responsable. Al mismo tiempo agradecemos las amplias y competentes introducciones brindadas por usted y el Sr. Krone a este Consejo.
Nuestro país que ha ratificado la Convención sobre el Derecho del Mar desde sus inicios, que ha aprobado y firmado la Declaración de Cancún en la pasada Conferencia Internacional de Pesca Responsable, es acreedor de una sostenida postura que se ha manifestado en los organismos internacionales donde hemos participado. Abogamos por el uso de opciones de administración pesqueras que respondan por una parte a los intereses socioeconómicos de una pesquería determinada y por otra que tengan en cuenta la adecuada protección de las poblaciones de peces.
La limitación actual de nuestras zonas de operaciones, lejos de la isla por situaciones económicas que enfrentamos en el presente, sobre todo de falta de combustible, no puede ser óbice para no pensar en las posibilidades de alimento que brinda la pesca en alta mar y esta alternativa debe mantenerse presente para países en desarrollo que ven el mar como fuente de proteínas o de ampliación de su comercio.
Deseamos aprovechar la ocasión para expresar nuestro reconocimiento al Gobierno de México por la tan importante iniciativa llevada a cabo el pasado mes de mayo del presente año, es decir, la materialización y éxito de la Conferencia Internacional de Pesca Responsable, a la que nuestro Ministro de la Industria Pesquera asistió, confiriéndosele a la misma toda la atención que requirió y ameritó. De igual forma, permítaseme extender este reconocimiento a la FAO por la encomiable labor desarrollada de manera conjunta para el logro del éxito de esta Conferencia.
Cuba apoya en su totalidad la Declaración de Cancún, emanada de esta importante Conferencia Internacional de Pesca Responsable y por tanto considera su responsabilidad como Estado, de cumplir lo que ella declara y acuerda. Es por ello, que vimos con beneplácito el documento "Prácticas pesqueras responsables en alta mar", presentado en la pasada Consulta de Expertos sobre la Pesca en Alta Mar el pasado mes de septiembre en la sede de la FAO, y lo consideramos como una primera aproximación para la elaboración de un Código Internacional de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable, que sentará las bases para la aceptación a una norma común relativa a las buenas prácticas de pesca en alta mar.
De igual forma vemos de gran utilidad la recomendación de Cancún de proponer a las Naciones Unidas que la próxima década sea declarada como el Decenio de la Pesca Responsable.
Aprovechamos el uso de la palabra para apoyar lo planteado por las distinguidas delegaciones de Suecia y México de que estos asuntos deben tener a la FAO como marco ideal donde se desarrollen estas futuras deliberaciones.
Creemos oportuno manifestar nuestra preocupación referente a que, aunque la Convención del Derecho del Mar reconoce la libertad para todos los Estados de pescar en alta mar (artículo 87) y las necesidades especiales de los Estados en desarrollo (artículo 119), las posibilidades de que dichos países aprovechen los recursos que brinda la pesca en alta mar, basados en la competencia con estados desarrollados, es prácticamente imposible.
Se deben crear mecanismos de acceso que tengan en cuenta los derechos de los operadores actuales y las aspiraciones y necesidades de los países en vías de desarrollo que desean participar en la explotación de los recursos pesqueros en alta mar.
Asimismo opinamos que la cooperación internacional para la pesca en alta mar debe manifestarse con un mayor apoyo financiero para inversiones en países en desarrollo, las cuales deben canalizarse por organismos internacionales y regionales existentes, mecanismos de asociación y otras formas de cooperación, con el fin de mejorar y ampliar la actividad pesquera de los países en desarrollo, y esto será congruente con una actividad de pesca responsable, que va desde la captura hasta el procesamiento de los productos destinados al consumo local o al comercio internacional, si fuera posible.
Finalmente, nuestra delegación aboga y apoya al mismo tiempo, para que este Consejo se pronuncie a favor de que el Director General incluya en el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto y en el Plan a Plazo Medio de 1994 a 1999, las disposiciones necesarias con vistas a la preparación de un proyecto de Código Internacional de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable, en consulta con otras organizaciones internacionales pertinentes y teniéndose en cuenta la Declaración de Cancún y el capítulo 17 del Programa 21, aprobado por la reciente Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas, sobre el Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo.
Amin ABDEL MALEK (Liban) (Langue originale arabe): Je voudrais tout d'abord vous remercier, Monsieur le Président, pour nous avoir présenté les deux documents concernant les faits nouveaux survenus récemment dans le domaine des pêches internationales. Vous avez précédé en cela M. Krone, responsable de cette question, et les informations que vous avez présentées sont importantes et utiles. Je remercie également M. Krone pour les éclaircissements supplémentaires qu'il a présentés sur ce sujet.
Je ne suis pas un expert dans le domaine des pêches mais j'ai eu l'occasion, au cours des réunions du Comité financier où j'ai l'honneur de représenter le Liban, et au cours des réunions du Conseil, d'appuyer toutes les questions susceptibles de contribuer au développement des pêches, convaincu de l'importance des pêches pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire dans le monde dont nous avons le plus pressant besoin pour répondre aux besoins alimentaires sans cesse croissants. M. Lindquist, ex Sous-Directeur général du département des pêches et actuellement représentant de la Suède s'en souvient certainement.
Le Liban appuie la demande faite à l'Organisation pour procéder, en collaboration avec d'autres organisations internationales compétentes, à la préparation d'un Code international de conduite pour une pêche responsable. Nous pensons qu'il y a la nécessité pour la FAO de s'intéresser au problème du changement de pavillon de navires péchant en haute mer en tant que moyen d'éviter de se conformer aux mesures de conservation et d'aménagement, et aux
pratiques commerciales acceptables. Nous appuyons le rôle important des organismes régionaux et sous-régionaux s'occupant des pêches et la nécessité de renforcer leurs fonctions en matière d'aménagement des pêcheries de haute mer, et d'améliorer la coopération et la coordination entre ces organismes. Nous appuyons également toutes les autres propositions contenues dans ces deux documents.
Tang ZHENGPING (China) (Original language Chinese): First of all I would like to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of documents CL 102/19 and CL 102/20. I would also like to thank you and also Mr Krone for the introductory statements to these two documents.
The Chinese delegation would like to voice its agreement with the recommendations that have to do with responsible fishing on the high seas. We are of the opinion, Sir, that with the rapid development of fishing - maritime fishing and high seas fishing - the protection of maritime fishery resources and the sustainable development of fishery production has now become one of the great concerns for the international community; hence, as we see it, it is necessary to adopt efficient and effective measures of a national and international nature in order to reinforce and strengthen the management of maritime fishing and high seas fishing, and in an appropriate manner continue the exploitation and utilization of fishery resources, but to do so with the necessary protection of the aforementioned resources so that it would be possible to satisfy the needs of future generations or fish supply. Those needs, as we know, will be constantly on the increase.
On the other hand, we would like to underline the fact that the preparation of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing and the establishment of a legal regime for high seas fishing is something which should be done on the basis of studies, surveys and scientific analyses, and within the framework of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea 1982.
The interests and the responsibilities of coastal states and those states which do dedicate their efforts to fishing have to be taken into consideration. It would also be necessary to reinforce and strengthen technical training and technical transfer in favour of developing countries as a way to bolster their maritime fishing capabilities and to guarantee their participation on an equal standing in the rational exploitation of fishery resources.
Lastly, Mr Chairman, we are of the opinion that in undertaking activities in those fields FAO should reinforce and strengthen cooperation with the other institutions within the UN system, and also it would be necessary to enhance the technical advantages of FAO in the field of fisheries so that it can make its most useful contribution to discussions and also avoid overlapping or dual employment as regards work being done in other institutions. This would be a way of ensuring an increase in the effectiveness of the work being done.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le représentant de la Chine de sa très intéressante intervention. Je lui sais gré de la clarté de son exposé.
Srta. Hilda María SANTIESTEBAN MONTERO (Costa Rica): Por ser la primera vez que hacemos uso de la palabra permítame, Sr. Presidente, expresar nuestra
complacencia por verlo presidir este período de sesiones del Consejo y nuestro agradecimiento al Dr. Krone por la excelente presentación de este tema.
Los países del istmo centroamericano, y los menciono alfabéticamente: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá, participamos muy activamente en la Conferencia Internacional de Pesca Responsable, celebrada en Cancún, México, del 6 al 8 de mayo del presente año.
En esta importante Conferencia nuestros países dieron su pleno apoyo a la Declaración de Cancún. En nombre de dichos países la delegación de Costa Rica desea en esta oportunidad reiterar a la FAO la solicitud contenida en dicha Declaración para que nuestra Organización elabore, en consulta con las organizaciones internacionales pertinentes, un Código Internacional de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable.
Consideramos indispensable que la FAO realice las concertaciones necesarias para que este Código de Conducta sea una realidad que proporcione un conjunto de reglas convenidas que permitan armonizar los objetivos de explotar racionalmente los recursos pesqueros, tanto en las aguas de jurisdicción nacional como en las de alta mar; que permita que las prácticas de captura sean armónicas con el ambiente; que proporcione reglas en el concepto de armonía para evitar deformaciones que alteren las relaciones de comercio internacional y que las prácticas comerciales permitan a todos los países beneficiarse de presentaciones adecuadas que valoricen los productos y den mayores ganancias a todos, permitiendo al mismo tiempo precios accesibles a la población, de tal manera que la contribución del pescado a la nutrición sea una realidad efectiva.
Nuestros países, Sr. Presidente, desean reiterar asimismo que el foro más adecuado para tratar los asuntos relacionados con la pesca es la FAO, por lo que esperamos que a través del Comité de Pesca, auxiliados por Consultas de Expertos y tomando los elementos pertinentes de los foros de otros organismos, se llegue a una concertación que ratificando los logros de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar (CONVEMAR), aporte los nuevos elementos que requiere la situación actual plasmándolos en el citado Código de Conducta.
Akira NIWA (Japan): First of all, I would like to express my thanks to the Chairman for his introduction and to Dr Krone for his detailed explanation.
With regard responsible fishing and the regime of high seas fishing, as one of the largest fishing countries and the largest fish importing country, Japan has a keen interest in these matters and attended both of the meetings, the Conference on Responsible Fishing in Cancún and the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing in Rome.
We made a lot of comments and distributed documents which explained our position at these meetings. We will not do that again.
Because fishing is a harvesting activity targeted at the resources which do not belong to anybody, fishing could easily wind up as excessively competitive. This excessive competition could cause extreme overutilization of limited marine resources. Some of these resources are nearing the limits for utilization. The problem is how to use these resources most wisely to avoid an adverse situation. It is vital to formulate a rational code of
conduct on responsible fishing practices. From this point of view Japan hopes the Council will adopt the recommendation that FAO initiate the preparation of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing which can apply to all fisheries. We believe it should apply to all states, including the developing countries.
On the issue of the re-flagging of high seas fishing vessels, Japan recognizes the programme and fully agrees with the result of the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing. Japan wishes FAO to take immediate action, as described in document CL 102/20 which is before us.
Japan also hopes that the Council will provide COFI with the necessary mandate.
Lastly, we understand that FAO is charged with the leadership role of encouraging the sound development of fisheries in the world, as well as extending assistance to developing countries. In recent years, however, FAO's leadership in the development of world fisheries has in some cases been allowed to be overtaken by other bodies, for example, the UN General Assembly and CIDIE. These bodies do not have specialist fisheries knowledge. Therefore, the decisions on fisheries suffer from the lack of a consultative process amongst those concerned and knowledgeable members. Instead, important decisions are taken on the basis of a majority.
Japan gives high marks to FAO for its strategy on fisheries management development, its contribution to the UN expert meeting on high seas fisheries in June last year, to its attendance at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June of this year, to its efforts to convene the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing and its contribution to the Cancún meeting.
We are hopeful about the outcome of FAO's current and future initiative on responsible fishing.
Bong-Hwan CHO (Korea, Republic of): On behalf of my delegation, I would like to thank the Secretariat which has prepared the informative document and also thank Mr Krone who clearly explained the recent developments in the international fisheries sector, Responsible Fishing and High Seas Fishing.
The delegation of the Republic of Korea had the chance to participate and share the views with other delegations in the Cancún meeting and the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing. I expect the technical and scientific matters will be again fully discussed in the coming Session of the Committee on Fisheries.
Therefore, I would like to make several remarks on the specific issues on paragraph 8 of the document CL 102/20.
(1) FAO-sponsored intergovernmental consultations
Firstly, my delegation has no difficulties in agreeing with the idea that the various issues, including the straddling and highly-migratory species issue, can be examined in the UN intergovernmental conference which will be convened next year.
Secondly, my delegation emphasizes that coastal countries and high seas fishing countries should cooperate to obtain the best scientific information on stock situation and fishing impact, especially on the straddling stocks and highly migratory species, through monitoring systems such as the scientific observer scheme.
Based on scientific information, the proper management and conservation measures can be maintained in compliance with the rules of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. I would like to express deep concern that the controlling of marine resources too strictly or arbitrarily for the reason of environmental protection can have serious effects on the sustainable development of world fisheries. Conservation measures for high seas fisheries should be based on the generally acceptable regime of the international legal framework.
(2) Preparation of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing
We believe that the rational exploitation and conservation of marine resources should be maintained in harmony with the environment and conservation of a healthy marine ecosystem.
In this regard we fully support one of the conclusions of the technical consultations that, in consultation with other international organizations, FAO should prepare an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing to cover all fisheries sectors.
My delegation would be grateful, if possible, to be informed about the time schedule and procedural matters for the preparation of an International Code of Conduct under the FAO's initiative.
We believe that the Code of Conduct should be dealt with step-by-step within a time-frame. The strict and rapid implementation, the application of some measures requiring the advanced technology and new equipment would give serious difficulties to developing fishing countries. Therefore, full consideration on the related matters should be kept in preparing the Code of Conduct.
(3) Issue of Reflagging of High Seas Fishing Vessels
My delegation agrees with the point that the reflagging issue needs urgent attention and that the states should make efforts to detail the reflagging for the proper conservation and management measures. On the other hand, my delegation believes that the effective way to discourage or prevent the reflagging in the present situation is to keep the precise implementation of guidelines and the duties of the flag state.
In the UN convention of the Law of the Sea, there is a provision which clearly states the duties of the flag state.
The ascription of nationality is one of the most important means to maintain public order at sea. The nationality of a vessel indicates to which rights and obligations the ships are subjected, as well as which country is to exercise the national jurisdiction over the vessel.
In this regard, in the technical consultation the Korean delegation clearly pointed out that we should pay basic attention to the resolution adopted by
the UNCTAD's meeting on shipping in 1981 which aims at the enhancement of the accountability of the flag state for all shipping operations.
I would like to add one more point on nationals. Usually a country's fishing operations are not associated with the ministry which is responsible for the crew. This actually results in a difficulty in controlling prohibited crews for fishery purposes.
We agree that the reflagging issue should be considered, in collaboration with the other international agencies concerned, with the full reflection of the above-mentioned points.
(4) Participation of developing countries
The problems for the developing countries in participating in high seas fishing are: the low level of technologies and capital, the burden of operational costs, marketing and so on. We welcome every effort for the enhancement of joint-venture activities, technology transfer and any other cooperative actions in the high seas fishing areas. At the same time, my delegation points out that the development of high seas fishing capabilities in developing countries could be enforced parallel with the development of industrial fishing activities within the exclusive economic zones.
In this regard, I also emphasize the close cooperation between coastal states and fishing states including EEZs should be kept for the rational exploitation and conservation of living marine resources.
John Bruce SHARPE (Australia): I should like to add my thanks to those who have preceded me concerning the preparation of these documents before us and their introduction.
Australia sees FAO as playing a vital role in encouraging higher standards of fisheries management throughout the world, both within exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. Australia supports the call for FAO to draft an International Code of Practice for Responsible Fishing, taking into account the Declaration of Cancún and in consultation with appropriate international organizations. FAO, through its Committee on Fisheries, is the most appropriate body for this task as its membership comprises coastal states and distant water fishing nations, developed and developing countries, as well as producer and consumer interests.
As an active member of the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency, Australia has a particular interest in the development of such a code. The smaller island nations depend heavily on sustainable management of fisheries resources of the South Pacific region, both in terms of nutrition and economic prosperity. In both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia is keen to support developments which would set minimum international standards for conduct of fishing operations, particularly on the high seas.
The FAO Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing held in Rome in September 1992 provided a forum for members to share their views on high seas fishing issues at a time when there is considerable international debate. However, the report of the Consultation represents a somewhat uneasy compilation of disparate views on a range of important issues in relation to high seas fishing. There are a number of areas in the report on which Australia has
concerns. These concerns were noted at the conclusion of the consultation and, I understand, were shared by a number of delegations. Australia would therefore not support Council endorsing the report of the Technical Consultation. We would prefer to see Council note the report.
Obviously the high seas issue is one where considerable further work is required. On the question of high seas fishing, Australia supports strongly the current international initiatives to elucidate further the obligations of states in relation to high seas fishing and to establish a framework for the effective implementation of those obligations. Australia recognizes the severe problems of stock depletion which compel coastal states to seek urgent action on the high seas issue, particularly in relation to straddling stocks. There is no doubt that the critical situations facing a number of the world's major fisheries are being exacerbated by the lack of commitment by some countries to proper control of the high seas fishing operations by their vessels and nationals.
There is one particular area of the report which Australia strongly supports: that is, the call from the Technical Consultation to address as a matter of urgency the problem of vessels reflagging to avoid legitimate management controls on the high seas. In this regard we fully support the proposal by the United States.
Australia is extremely concerned that the activities of fishing vessels flying flags of convenience are already confounding conservation and management measures agreed for a number of the world's valuable fisheries. The practice is being used to avoid legitimate management controls. Those countries which are members of international fishery management regimes and whose nationals and vessels are active in relevant fisheries must be prepared to take steps to discourage activities which undermine those regimes. Those countries accepting new registrations should be encouraged to take a greater interest in and responsibility for the activities of vessels operating under their flag. In many cases, reflagged vessels do not provide even basic catch and effort data to the government of their country of registration, let alone to other countries with an interest in the fishery.
In our own region the recovery of severely depleted southern bluefin tuna stocks may be jeopardized by unregulated operations of vessels flagged in countries which take no interest in either the proper management of the southern bluefin tuna or the implementation of effective measures to control the operations of their fleets. Australia, Japan and New Zealand have for a number of years adopted stringent, if informal, conservation measures for southern bluefin tuna. We are close to formalizing that arrangement into an international convention for the conservation of southern bluefin tuna but are concerned that one of the major threats to the integrity of this arrangement and the recovery of the stock may be fishing by tuna longline vessels reflagged to operate outside the framework established by the convention.
Our colleague from New Zealand, a close neighbour in the Southwest Pacific region, will be among those Observers who will be making an intervention at the conclusion of the comments made by members of the Council. I should like to put on record that we fully support the intervention that New Zealand will be making. They have discussed it with us prior to this meeting.
LE PRESIDENT: Je remercie le représentant de l'Australie d'appuyer une intervention qui n'a pas encore été faite. J'ai évoqué la lettre que j'avais reçue du représentant permanent de la Nouvelle Zélande; ce pays a été inscrit en tant qu'observateur.
Vous permettrez certainement à votre Président de faire une remarque en ce qui concerne le point qui a été soulevé, à savoir d'appuyer une consultation technique. Il n'appartient pas au Conseil de donner son appui à une consultation technique qui a à rédiger un rapport, avec des points de vue techniques, rapport qui ne sera pas soumis au Conseil. Nous n'avons donc pas à en discuter. Ce rapport est transmis à l'instance responsable, c'est-à-dire le Comité des pêches. Le Comité des pêches, en application de l'article XXX du Règlement général, est un comité qui en réfère au Conseil. Donc, nous avons bien stipulé que le Comité des pêches se réunirait en mars 1993 et en référerait au Conseil, à sa session de juin 1993.
Nusyirwan ZEN (Indonesia): The Indonesian delegation welcomes the initiative to be taken by the Director-General to make arrangements for the preparation of a draft document of an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. We realize that appropriate management of marine water resources is a fundamental requisite not only to create a sustainable supply of fish as a valuable source of nutrition for the people but also to maintain biodiversity of the sea. We also realize that since 1982, when the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea set out the rights and responsibilities of states with respect to the utilization of the living resources in their EEZs and made provisions for the management of high seas living resources, a lot of development has taken place in the expansion of high sea fisheries. This development requires new global arrangements on the responsibility of conduct in fishing operations to ensure sustainable productivity of the sea.
As we understand, the Declaration of Cancún in May 1992 contains basically the rationale for responsible fishing and obligations expected from every coastal state. The Declaration was further brought to the attention of UNCED in June 1992.
Indonesia has attached high priority to practising sound marine resource management since 1972, as indicated by the issuance of Indonesian sea law and regulations on the conduct of responsible fishing. The Indonesian delegation wishes, therefore, to reiterate their support on the arrangement made to prepare a draft regarding an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing by taking into account the Declaration of Cancún 1992 and results of UNCED 1992.
With regard to the Report of the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing, the Indonesian delegation welcomes the outcome of this meeting. Recommendations on the basic concept of high seas fishing and other aspects would be very useful for negotiating and formulating codes of conduct and rules and regulations for sustainable high seas fishery management.
On the strengthening of sub-regional cooperation and coordination in Southeast Asia, ASEAN member countries have been cooperating closely through the Coordinating Group on Fisheries and the establishment of an ASEAN Fisheries Federation which meet regularly and develop joint programmes and activities.
Robert F. ANDRIGO (Canada): The FAO Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing of September last addressed a number of important issues related to fisheries operations conducted on the high seas. Of these, two in particular are of great interest and importance to Canada. These two are a Code of Conduct on fishing and the issue of reflagging.
On the question of a Code of Conduct, we can say that Canada favours the development of a Code of Conduct on fishing. However, we are firmly of the view that a separate Code of Conduct for high seas fishing is called for to reflect the distinct issues and concerns related to high seas fishery. Canada took this position at the September Consultation, this position being supported by many delegations at that meeting.
In tetrms of content of the proposed Codes of Conduct, Canada holds firmly that they must be technical in nature so as not to interfere with the United Nations Conference on High Seas Fishing which will commence in 1993 and deal with policy issues.
On the issue of reflagging by owners in an effort to avoid conservation measures of regional fisheries organizations, this is a major concern for Canada, as illustrated by a document co-sponsored by Canada and 39 other countries in the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. At the Rome Technical Consultation, Canada supported a prompt resolution of this issue. Given the consensus at the Rome Technical Consultation on the urgency of achieving an agreement on reflagging, Canada strongly supports the establishment of a core group of experts comprised of FAO members before the COFI Meeting in March 1993 to work on such an agreement, to be concluded, if possible, by mid-1993, thereby contributing tò the work of the UN conference on high seas fishing problems relating to straddling stocks and highly migratory species.
We should also like to address the issue of the role which FAO should play in the intergovernmental conference currently being discussed in the UN General Assembly. We would recall, as does the Secretariat paper, that we have a mandate agreed unanimously at UNCED to convene an intergovernmental conference under UN auspices.
The proposal advanced by the Swedish delegation effectively asks that the FAO Council preempt a debate currently under way in another UN body designated unanimously for this purpose. We are of the view that it is inappropriate for the FAO Council to select, and we believe that the continuing explicit contribution of the FAO to the intergovernmental conference must await the conclusion of the ongoing debate in New York.
LE PRESIDENT: Je voudrais quand même signaler que la FAO a une large expérience dans le domaine des codes de conduite, des accords d'entente internationaux et autres, dans d'autres secteurs de l'agriculture au sens large. C'est pourquoi les considérations que vous avez émises seront certainement prises en compte.
O TOUGAARD (EEC): I should like to make a declaration on behalf on the European Community. First of all, as previous speakers, I should like to congratulate the Secretariat on the two papers they have produced on the two
very important issues, the regime of high seas fishing and responsible fishing. I shall make my comments on these two papers in a logical order.
First of all, with regard to responsible fishing, the European Community entirely agrees with the principle that fishing, both on the high seas and within economic zones, must be carried out in a responsible way in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS, as was underlined in the Cancún Declaration.
In this context, I should like to mention that the European Community considers that improving the selectivity of fishing gear is one of the fundamental pillars in regard to responsible fishing. The common fisheries policies contained the necessary elements in this respect.
The Community has always stated that the management of shared resources, such as straddling and highly migratory species, must be done as provided for in UNCLOS in the framework of international cooperation, within international commissions and with the participation of the contracting parties, as well as those states whose fleets operate in the region covered by the international organizations.
In this respect, the Community, as has been said by many other speakers, is extremely worried by the activities of fleets operating under flags of convenience or the flag of non-contracting parties in the area of certain fisheries commissions, particularly in NAFO and ICCAT. The non-respect of rules and agreements, as well as the non-communication of basic scientific data, can cause especially difficult problems for the good management of the resources concerned. The control of such fishing should also be a point of primary importance. In this regard, the application of new technology should allow us to make important progress in this area.
The drawing up of a Code of Conduct, discussed recently during a technical consultation here in Rome on high seas fisheries, and indeed called for in the Cancún Declaration, should be the subject in an appropriate forum of an international cooperation in order to avoid unilateral approaches.
In this regard, the European Community feels that the technical aspects in the drawing up of such a Code should be included in FAO's work programme which is its principal task. We are fully prepared to cooperate in the development of this Code.
As to the possible content of such a Code, my delegation would at this stage like to highlight a few key elements which should be addressed. First of all, we would like to emphasize that the Code can only be elaborated whilst scrupulously respecting the relevant provisions of the Law of the Sea. As a matter of fact, this Convention is the fruit of long negotiations and establishes a delicate equilibrium between contractory interests. It contains as a principle the cooperation between the fisheries nations and the coastal states in the framework of existing or future regional fisheries organizations for the conservation of the resources beyond the fishing zones. Therefore, we cannot accept any form of action which seeks to change the limits of jurisdiction as set out in the Convention.
Secondly with regard to responsible fishing as referred to recently in the Cancún Declaration - that is durable fishing in coexistence with the environment - we want to emphasize here that this concept does not mean the end of all commercial fishing activities.
Thirdly, the Code of Conduct should be applicable everywhere. This approach is in accordance with the provisions of UNCLOS which sets the rights and obligations of both the coastal states and those who fish on the high seas.
Fourthly, responsible fishing refers to all fishery activities whether inside or outside the EEZ.
Fifth, it is necessary to find a satisfactory solution to the problem resulting from the flags of convenience. In this respect, we agree that this element of the Code should be treated as a matter of priority.
More specifically with regard to the paper and the topic of the Regime of the High Seas Fishing, I just wish to reiterate, as I have said already, that the sound management of resources applies, of course, both within and without the fishing zones. The Community considers that management on the high seas, and in particular straddling stocks, would be based on the established guidelines and within the framework of international cooperation, and whenever possible on the basis of the best scientific information available.
The Cancún Declaration, and more recently the UNCED Declaration and the FAO Technological Consultation on High Seas Fishing, all address this subject matter of responsible and sustainable fishing practices, although in different ways and with different coverage. As I said in regard to the issue of responsible fishing, discussion on this cannot be limited to fishing on the high seas, but must also cover fisheries behaviour within the coastal states fishing zone. This is, of course, of particular importance and relevance in regard to straddling stocks, for which a coherent and rational management approach must be agreed within multilateral arrangements. We feel that regional fisheries organizations have a particular role to play in this regard as stipulated in UNCLOS.
The Community can in general accept the conclusions of the Technical Consultation as described under point 6 in document CL 102/20. However, we wish to underline that with regard to the legal issues which were not debated during the Technical Consultation, and which are referred to under point 6 (X), the Community reserves its position on the document presented by DOALOS.
With regard to the proposal to the Council mentioned under point 8 of the said document, on the various tasks to be undertaken, the Community can also, in general, support the suggestion that FAO takes the necessary initiatives in this regard. However we want to underline that we feel that FAO's principal role is to engage in the technical work.
More particularly in this respect, with regard to the FAO-sponsored intergovernmental consultation programmed for 1993, the Community shares the view that, due to the proposed United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Straddling Stocks and Highly Migratory Species, it now appears that the 1993 intergovernmental consultation is not necessary.
The Community, however, sees that the ongoing technical work within this organization may be useful in view of the preparation of the United Nations intergovernmental conference.
With regard to the issue of reflagging of high seas fishing vessels, which has been dealt with in this paper, we wish to reiterate our position as expressed under the previous point, that responsible fishing is an integrated part of the Code of Conduct as far as the Community is concerned.
The Community wishes to recall that technical consultation on high seas fishing recommends that the FAO Committee on Fisheries could consider means through which an international agreement could be reached to prevent reflagging of fishing vessels for the purpose of non-compliance with conservation and management measures. In this context we have been listening with interest to the suggestions made by the United States. However, we feel that this issue is of such importance that any work in this regard must be addressed in a careful and prudent way. Therefore, we are in support of the view that this matter should be dealt with firstly by COFI.
LE PRESIDENT: En ce qui concerne les aspects techniques, la procédure, je l'ai signalé en réponse à l’intervention de l'Australie, il est clair qu'un travail technique doit toujours à un moment donné avoir des implications d'ordre politique.
Sra. Mercedes FERMÍN GOMEZ (Venezuela): Comenzaremos nuestra intervención dando pleno respaldo a la intervención de la delegación de México en el planteamiento de los documentos que se llevaron a cabo en la Conferencia de Cancún, referentes a la pesca responsable y a la necesidad de crear un Código de Conducta para la pesca, que yo no limitaría a la alta mar, sino a la pesca en general, potque consideramos que debido a las avanzadas tecnologías de las poderosas flotas pesqueras que actúan en alta mar, éstas han llegado a convertir ese ámbito en una especie de tierra de nadie en donde, habida cuenta de las dificultades para llevar a cabo un control de las actividades pesqueras y de las extralimitaciones que ocurren a menudo, se ha hecho muy difícil hacer una regulación, por eso consideramos que el Código de Conducta será indispensable y, comp una manera anecdótica de quien ha estudiado hace mucho tiempo, diré que hace muchos años cuando aún era una estudiante de postgrado en Geografía en la Universidad de Boston, me correspondió hacer un paper de pruebas de investigación sobre los derechos del mar y derechos de pesca en aguas territoriales y, curiosamente, tuve entre la documentación quince años del periódico New York Times, en donde anotaba los abusos de las diferentes flotas en esta pesca, no sólo de alta mar, en ese tiempo no se limitaba a la alta mar. Entonces pudimos conocer que algunos de estos países, que poseen especies de grandes porta-aviones para sus flotas, llegaban al extremo de contratar a sus trabajadores por cinco años, de manera que un trabajador de estas flotas pesqueras no podía ir a su país durante cinco años, porque durante cinco años estaba como en una especie de trashumancia por todos los océanos en esta pesca sin control. En aquel tiempo era como una especie de vida primitiva en cuanto a derechos del mar y por esa razón los abusos eran extremos. Nosotros pudimos catalogar estos países, por supuesto no necesito nombrarlos. Sus flotas iban del Pacífico al Atlántico, al Indico, a las aguas territoriales y abusaban de los derechos de los países ribereños y de los países pequeños.
Tiempo después, me tocó ser delegada en la Primera Conferencia de los Derechos del Mar y allí comenzamos esta lucha de control de las aguas territoriales, de derechos de los países ribereños, de clasificación de lo que podríamos llamar pesca de altura - en aquel tiempo se hablaba de pesca de altura, ahora
hablamos de la pesca en alta mar y de los países ribereños - y se crearon las zonas restringidas para los países que deben ser dueños de sus aguas territoriales, pero que siguen siendo víctimas de una técnica, que ojalá podamos ver eliminada definitivamente, cual es la de la pesca de arrastre, que no tiene justificación, por cuanto atenta contra la conservación de los recursos marinos, especialmente de los pequeños peces, que son arrastrados con la pesca grande.
Todas estas cosas son interesantes de conocer aquí para resolver el problema - no estoy de acuerdo con que esto es un problema estrictamente técnico. Cuando nosotros hablamos del cambio de pabellones y cuando hablamos del control de cambio de pabellones, la técnica no hace absolutamente nada. Tenemos que tener un concepto político de esto. También disiento de que en este foro de la FAO no se puede hablar de conceptos políticos. Ya en una oportunidad pedí al Presidente de aquel momento una definición al respecto, porque bajo la disquisición de que solamente podemos hablar de cosas técnicas, hay problemas como éste del cambio de pabellones que es estrictamente político y después pedimos a la FAO que entre un control técnico. Por esa razón, voy a insistir en que estos problemas de la pesca en alta mar no pueden ser solamente técnicos. La tecnología ha ayudado a esas grandes flotas a ser más abusivas de lo que anteriormente eran. Por consiguiente, sí vamos a encomendar a alguien proveer los medios para el control de esos abusos, no podemos esperar que sean simplemente controles técnicos, tendríamos que tener una flota de helicópteros, por ejemplo, con grandes visuales, para poder ver a quién pertenecen las banderas y cuándo las cambian. Eso es imposible, tendríamos que apelar a la responsabilidad de los países que tienen flotas con banderas diferentes y establecer una reglamentación para que la responsabilidad de estos países sea propia y no solamente vigilada.
Por esa razón, creo que es indispensable el código de conducta, pero un Código de Conducta mediante el cual podamos apelar a la responsabilidad de los países, no solamente a la responsabilidad de no abusar con lo ajeno, sino también a la responsabilidad de cuidar los recursos del mar para el futuro, porque estos extremos en la pesca no solamente los defendemos por cuanto responden a un derecho que nos corresponde a los países ribereños, sino también porque responden a la necesidad de conservar un recurso que es de todos y que, por consiguiente, debemos dejar la oportunidad para que sea del disfrute de todos y no solamente que por el poder de su gran tecnología o por el poder económico puedan abusar de los países pequeños. En ese sentido entiendo yo el Código de Conducta y en ese sentido apoyamos y respaldamos la petición de México de establecer este Código de Conducta y sobre todo nos complace mucho que la mayoría de los que nos han antecedido en el derecho de palabra, reconozcan que debe ser la FAO la Organización a la que corresponde la redacción, por lo menos en principio, de este Código de Conducta.
Corea ha planteado interesantes sugerencias con respecto al control y ha mencionado, al mismo tiempo, la incapacidad de los países en desarrollo para lograr ese control. Una razón más para que la FAO, que es como quien dice el representante de los países en desarrollo y de los países del mundo subdesarrollado, pudiera tomar, en cierta manera, la responsabilidad de lograr que esta sugerencia se convierta en una realidad.
A nosotros nos parece sumamente difícil, dada la audacia de los países que tienen la mayor explotación de la pesca, ese control del cambio de pabellones. Solamente se nos ocurre que estableciendo una terminante prohibición de que los países otorguen sus pabellones a otros países, se podría lograr la
responsabilidad de quienes pescan, porque es muy difícil que, por ejemplo Venezuela, que tiene un mar territorial, por su límites, que llega a muchos kilómetros, pudiera vigilar a quienes están pescando en el centro del mar Caribe - porque hasta allí llegan los límites de Venezuela, hasta las islas de las Aves -. Es muy difícil que podamos controlar lo que ya ocurre, que muchas de esas flotas pesqueras abusan de nuestros mares y se meten en ellos sin el control de nadie. Lo mismo ocurriría a los países ribereños del Océano Indico y del Océano Pacífico, que es tan grande.
Por esa razón, pensar o creer que mediante medios técnicos nosotros podamos llegar al control del cambio de pabellones es poco menos que ilusorio. Tiene que ser un autocontrol mediante la responsabilidad política de esos países, porque aquí ya interfiere la razón política y no la razón técnica.
En cuanto al Código de Conducta propiamente dicho, solamente me quedaría apoyar los conceptos que aquí se han establecido con relación al cuidado que deben tener con respecto a las poblaciones bizonales y a las especies migratorias. Este es un campo en donde también nosotros tenemos una dura experiencia, me refiero a Venezuela. Nosotros tenemos ya especies que han sido totalmente agotadas por el abuso de la pesca. Tenemos también algunos casos de migraciones que se desviaron hacia otros lados sin que todavía técnicamente se sepa por qué.
De una manera anecdótica debo decir, por ejemplo, que en Venezuela, en la Isla Margarita, era tal la seguridad que tenían los pescadores de que determinados cardúmenes llegaran un determinado día del año a su puerto, que tenían una celebración religiosa de esa naturaleza. Eso desapareció, porque hace aproximadamente diez años que esa especie no viene más a ese puerto, no viene por esas aguas, y es que esas especies migratorias han sido desviadas hacia otros mundos, no sabemos por qué. Ahí había un punto muy interesante desde el punto de vista de investigación científica: averiguar qué ha pasado. Eso no ocurre con una especie solamente en Venezuela, también ocurre con algunos países ribereños del mar Caribe en otros lados. Por eso, aprovechamos a respaldar aquí la exposición hecha por la delegada de Costa Rica en nombre de los países de América Central, porque son ellos también víctimas de abusos de estas empresas pesqueras, que no respetan el mar territorial, que no respetan los mares ribereños.
No creo que deba extenderme mucho más, porque estos son los puntos esenciales que quería plantear. Sí quiero respaldar la proposición de que sea la FAO la que se encargue de la elaboración de este Código de Conducta, pero, insisto, no creo que esto sea un problema estrictamente técnico y que debamos estar esperando que las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York decidan que aquí la FAO tiene mayor capacidad que ninguna otra Organización para enfrentar y resolver ese problema y por esa razón así lo dejo expresado.
EL PRESIDENTE: Muchas gracias, Sra. Embajadora, quisiera decir que los helicópteros ya no son necesarios, en el sentido de que con satélites y con el sistema de teledetección se puede verificar muy bien lo que está pasando sobre el mar.
Adel EL-SARKI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic): My delegation wishes to thank Mr Krone for his fine introduction of these documents, providing us with valuable background information about the issue of responsible fishing. My
delegation is fully aware of the vital contribution of fisheries resources to food security. Thus, my delegation deems it highly important to establish a more efficient fisheries management system which would prevent the excessive fishing of fish stocks and would secure their adequate conservation.
It is also important to review the problem resulting from the high seas fishing vessels reflagging practices Consequently, my delegation welcomes the Cancún Declaration and will spare no effort in implementing the recommendations therein.
Furthermore, my delegation welcomes the proposal aimed at supporting and promoting developing countries' capabilities with a view to securing their involvement in high seas fishing activities. We also recognize the importance of regional and sub-regional cooperation in the field of fisheries.
Further, my delegation welcomes FAO's efforts in preparing the international Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing in cooperation with the relevant international organizations.
By way of conclusion, my delegation wishes to stress the importance of convening an international conference within the UN system to be entrusted with the task of examining the issues related to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory species.
Jan BIELAWSKI (Poland): Mr Chairman, I should like to thank you for your opening, as well as for the lucid introduction made by Dr Krone which constitutes a very good background for our discussion. I do not think we have time for parambular comment, so I should just like to stress the significance of this debate for my country, which generally considers this area as a classical case of managing interdependence, and the significance for our national economy as well.
From the very outset I should like to say that Poland supports the idea of placing these issues on the Agenda of this Council. We think that this is consistent with the recommendations of the last technical consultations on high seas fishing. Poland, having made its contribution to finding consensus on these recommendations, believes that they really should constitute a basis for further action, and rather rapid action too.
Without reopening the debate on the respective roles of COFI and the Council, we are absolutely convinced that this session should generate strong support of these recommendations.
Generally, we adhere to the Cancún Declaration, and we highly appreciate the central decisive role Mexico played in convening the International Conference on Responsible Fishing.
Accordingly, we think that follow-ups should be commensurate.
In this context, as suggested by the Chair, I should like to address myself to key recommendations to be found in document CL 102/20 on page 4. Here we believe that the FAO should initiate the preparation of an international code of practice for responsible fishing. That is why I should like to support the proposals made in this body to expedite the process of preparing this very crucial document. A small group of experts could be recruited.
By the same token and with even greater urgency FAO should implement the recommendation concerning the issue of reflagging of high seas fishing vessels. It is a long story. Our expert spoke on that not long ago, so that is why I only present our position on that.
I think I should stress again that COFI should receive a proper mandate, and I should like to associate my position with the views expressed by the delegate of the EEC and with other delegates who have spoken in a similar manner.
Finally, and stressing the need to ensure the adequate place of FAO in multilateral efforts in these domains, as well as our Organization's impact on these efforts, I should like also to stress the need to avoid undue overlapping with the activities of other institutional bodies. I believe that in due course in future these issues will be satisfactorily resolved.
I take this opportunity also to commend the Fisheries Department for its activities which my Government finds both important and useful.
P.M. NZUE (Kenya): Mr Chairman, my congratulations go to the Secretariat for the preparation of the two documents before us.
The Kenyan delegation is pleased to be involved in the discussion of this item, particularly when we recall that it was just in September 1992 that we were among the participants at a Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing here in this same room. Allow us to thank the FAO which, in conjunction with the Government of the United States of Mexico, organized a meeting in Cancún in May 1992 on responsible fishing.
We consider these two meetings' recommendations as crucial to the survival of the world's fishing industry. There cannot be a better approach to this matter than the way that FAO is handling it.
Mr Chairman, if you will allow me to go back to the Item on Responsible Fishing, it is my delegation's view that some over-exploitation of fish stock has been continuing unabated, especially when we take into account that most developing countries are disadvantaged in this area.
Some of these coastal states, for obvious reasons, cannot police their EEZs.
We, therefore, call on all States to adhere to the provisions of the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea. In this respect, Mr Chairman, we appeal to the FAO not only to continue its efforts in promoting international understanding on responsible fishing but to go ahead in drafting an international Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. We equally support the contents of paragraph 13 of document CL 102/19, and in general we endorse the Cancún Declaration.
On the regime of the High Seas Fishing, we fully support the conclusions of the Technical Consultation on High Seas Fishing as contained in paragraph 6 of document CL 102/20. We especially support sub-paragraph (v) and express our hope that regional fishery bodies will continue to receive international support in achieving their goals.
We finally call for urgent assistance to be given to developing countries in their capacity-building efforts in order to allow them to participate in the use of high seas fishery resources.
Súpote DECHATES (Thailand): Mr Chairman, may I begin by congratulating the Secretariat for preparing the quality papers in front of us.
Thailand is not a fishing country in the high seas at the present time. However, we are planning to expand to fishing in the high seas through joint ventures with other high seas fishing nations and the coastal states who have, of course, responsible fishing principles. The lack of technology in high seas fishing is one of the obstacles for developing nations, including my own country, to become involved in high seas fishing independently. Hence, my delegation would like to stress the need to strengthen the capacity of developing countries for their participation in high seas fishing as a necessity. So far, Thailand has only developed the industrial fisheries within EEZs with its professionals in this field and Thailand is still one of the world's top ten countries in total fisheries catching since 1977.
With regard to the Cancún Declaration on the principle of sustainable development and sustainable utilization of marine living resources as the basis for fisheries management policies, my country fully supports this Declaration. It must be noted there is a widespread recognition of the important role played by small-scale fisheries in providing food for local consumption and the employment in disadvantaged areas and of the need to improve the welfare of marine and inland fishing communities. My country, therefore, is also aware of the need for conservation and management rules for fishing activities on the high seas which should not have a negative impact on small-scale fisheries. Environmental policies should only deal with the root causes of environmental degradation and the restrictive measures on fishery trade should be avoided.
With regard to responsible fishing practices on the problems of incidental catches of marine mammals, sea turtles and sea birds in main fishing gear, this problem depends mainly on the intensity of fishing and the size of stocks or the size in population of marine mammals, sea turtles and sea birds in each area. The results of study on incidental catches in particular fishing areas should not apply to other fishing areas. Therefore, the Regional Committees and coastal states should establish marine and coastal protected areas, including an inventory of endangered species and critical coastal and marine habitats, and, where appropriate, protect them through national and international legislation as mentioned in Agenda Item 21 D-33 of the UNCED.
May I now turn to paragraph 11 of the document CL 102/19; my Government feels that FAO is the most suitable body to draft an international Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing taking into account the Declaration in consultation with other relevant international organizations.
Mr Chairman, I support, therefore, the contents as stated in paragraph 13 which requests the Director-General to include these in the Programme of World and Budget and in the Medium-Term Plan for 1992-99.
Ms Jindra Linda DEMETERIO (Philippines): A lot has been said by the distinguished delegates ahead of me of the vital importance of the conservation and management of world fishery resources and I certainly shall not go into the subject further.
Suffice it to say that the Philippines delegation shares the same concerns.
It might interest the Council, however, to learn about the efforts that my country continues to exert along the lines of fishery resource conservation and management.
For the first time, Mr Chairman, the Philippines Fisheries Plan for 1992-1995 corrects the total development orientation of previous plans by including a management component.
The management plan calls for: first, the management of fishing efforts for specific areas and/or specific fishery; secondly, the management of the habitat, specifically the protection and conservation of the coral reefs and mangrove areas which are still in excellent condition, and the regeneration of damaged reefs and mangroves; thirdly, the management of research and data generation to provide information on the maximum sustainable yields of important fisheries and selective fishing grounds; and fourthly, the management of the allocation of resources among various users.
Another development in fishery management in the Philippines, which our fishery experts find particularly exciting, is the introduction of Coastal Resources Management (CRM) in twelve selected bays. The management measures being implemented in these bays are (i) territorial delineation of the bays for the exclusive use of small fishermen (and I must mention here that this type of management was advocated by small-scale fishermen themselves);
(ii) resource conservation and regeneration measures through the establishment of fish sanctuaries and artificial reefs and the replenishing of mangroves;
(iii) control of the level of fishing efforts within the bays; (iv) strict enforcement of fishery laws; and (v) devolution of authority for the management of the coastal areas to the local government and the community utilizing the resource.
In closing, Mr Chairman, I wish to express my delegation's full support for the Declaration of Cancún and the results of the Technical Consultations on High Seas Fishing held here last September, wherein my country took active participation.
It is my delegation's opinion that FAO should provide scientific and technical inputs into the proposed UN intergovernmental conference on straddling stocks and highly migratory species. FAO is in the best position to do so especially now after the Technical Consultations earlier mentioned.
The Philippine delegation also particularly endorses the proposal that FAO draft an International Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing and the preparation of methods of control and enforcement and dispute settlement to govern high seas fishing. The Expert Group meeting should thus be convened as soon as possible.
Lastly, my delegation recognizes the important role of regional and sub-regional fishery bodies and we support the call for strengthening the functions of these bodies in high seas fisheries management and the enhancement of cooperation and coordination amongst them.
Winston RUDDER (Trinidad and Tobago): The brevity of both documents before us belies the powerful and persuasive argument they contain and the significance of the message which requires us to act immediately in terms of dealing with a very important issue related to international cooperation and development, the whole question of the development of fisheries. We, therefore, note this call to action and join with others of the Council who have declared very openly that the charge has to be led by the FAO, which, by remit and by expertise, is well poised to take the necessary action as indicated in documents CL 102/19 and CL 102/20.
Our concern on these issues arises from the fact that, as small island states, our marine resources represent a very significant proportion of the natural resource base that is available to us both for economic development and, very importantly, for meeting the nutritional requirements of our population. We are therefore alarmed at the evidence that the current action in so far as exploitation of the world's fisheries resources is concerned, if continued unabated, could lead to ruin for us all.
In our small way we understand that responsible approaches in respect of the exploitation of the fisheries resources must be based on data and information of the state of our fish stocks and knowledge, techniques, technologies and management systems for their more rational exploitation.
My country has been making its own small contribution in this regard with both bilateral and multilateral financial and technical assistance. I speak of a recent FAO technical assistance UNDP-funded fish stock assessment project which is just about complete and which, I am sure, the organization with which we are cooperating will be pleased to extend further assistance. I refer also to our continuing initiative with the FAO in terms of updating our fisheries legislation.
At the sub-regional level within CARICOM, the FAO too has been at the forefront of technical assistance in support of fisheries legislation and the development of an inter-governmental arrangement amongst the countries of CARICOM to ensure more responsible management of our EEZs.
I must mention too the generous assistance of the Canadian Government in a Caribbean fisheries resource assessment and management programme of some twenty million Canadian dollars which is intended to expand and enhance our capacity in this regard.
These initiatives are modest by international standards. However, they do speak to the interests and concerns shared by my delegation, and indeed the member states of the CARICOM sub-region of Latin America and the Caribbean, on the question of responsible action in so far as management and exploitation of the world's fisheries resources are concerned. Accordingly, we welcome and support the initiatives as proposed in the documents before us and call on our colleagues of Council to do likewise. In particular, we endorse the proposals in paragraph 13 of document 102/19 which request the Director-General to
include in the programme of work and budget arrangements for the preparation for a draft of an International Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries.
Mustapha-Menouar SINACEUR (Maroc): Monsieur le Président, puisque vous êtes sur le point de clôturer la session de ce matin, je profite de l'occasion pour faire une requête, avec votre indulgence et l'acceptation des membres du Conseil.
Demain matin à l'ordre du jour, nous avons l'examen des faits nouveaux survenus dans le système des Nations Unies intéressant la FAO. A l'intérieur de ce point nous allons discuter des développements au niveau du Conseil mondial de l'alimentation.
Vous aurez remarqué, M. le Président, que le rapport est quelque peu incomplet sur ce plan-là puisqu'il ne reprend pas les conclusions du Comité ad hoc qui s'est réuni en septembre.
Vous savez aussi que cette question sera abordée par l'Assemblée générale à la quatrième Commission - elle devait être abordée hier mais elle a été reportée à la semaine prochaine. Si j'interviens maintenant c'est afin que le Secrétariat ait le temps d'apporter les compléments nécessaires à ce rapport qui sera présenté demain. Je vous remercie M. le Président.
LE PRESIDENT: Je voudrais faire remarquer que le Canada a fait état hier d'un document proprement canadien dont nous n'avons pas connaissance mais je vais demander à Mme. Killingsworth de tenir compte de la remarque faite par l'Honorable représentant du Maroc, et de nous faire un exposé actualisé de façon que nous puissions discuter de tous les faits nouveaux intervenus dans la famille des Nations Unies intéressant les activités de la FAO.
Je déclare close la session de ce matin.
The meeting rose at 12.30 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 30.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12.30 horas.
