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I. MAJOR TRENDS AND POLICIES IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (continued)
I. PRINCIPALES TENDANCES ET QUESTIONS DE POLITIQUE EN MATIERE D'ALIMENTATION ET D'AGRICULTURE (suite)
I. PRINCIPALES TENDENCIAS Y POLÍTICAS EN LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACIÓN (continuación)

9. Comprehensive Programme for the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones (continued)
9. Programme densemble visant au développement et à la gestion des pêcheries dans les zones économiques exclusives (suite)
9. Programa global para el desarrollo y la ordenación de la explotación pesquera en las
zonas económicas exclusivas (continuación)

CHAIRMAN: Before we begin the discussion, we shall have the Rapporteur's report.

H. MENDS (Rapporteur from Plenary to Commission I): The enthusiasm with which delegates approached this subject will allow me to be very brief this morning.

The Comprehensive Programme for the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones was by far the most favoured subject of the general discussion, judging from the way the various Heads of delegation reacted to it. They decried the apparent lack of financial and technical resources for immediate implementation of the Programme. Australia, while supporting the Programme, was of the view that individual countries would be best able to undertake the development of their EEZ only with the cooperation of neighbouring countries. They cited many fruitful regional collaborative efforts among the countries in the South-West Pacific area.

As there was considerable scarcity with regard to protein-rich food in many of the developing countries, fishery development was considered to be very important for improving the nourishment of large sections of their populations. However, most of the speakers emphasized the fact that without external assistance it would not be possible for many of those countries to undertake the fisheries development in their EEZ.

Many countries were concerned about this, and in the main the developed countries said they were ready to share their experience, both technical and expertise, with the developing countries in this field. Specifically, mention was made of the contribution Norway had made in executing this Programme, and Bulgaria stated that it had already extended bilateral assistance to some countries for implementing the Programme in their areas.

Some countries were of the view that the development of aquaculture and promotion of inland fisheries, with particular emphasis on small artesonal operators, should be carried out simultaneously with the development of marine fisheries.

Finally, since very little mention was made in the general discussion on the next item on your agenda, I wish to' take this opportunity to report on it at this stage. Indeed, the records show that only two countries referred to thè subject of food standards matters and the work of the FAO/WHO CODEX Alimentarius Commission. Reference was made by Turkey to the problems that developing countries are experiencing on account of the food standards prescribed by the developed countries. It was considered that processing and packaging of food products had become more important than the efforts that must go into the production process to feed the hungry and malnourished millions.

CHAIRMAN: I thank the Rapporteur very much for his exposition.

It is vital that speakers try to limit their contributions to no more than 4 minutes, in order to give everyone on the list a chance to speak. If you have longer statements, please submit those for inclusion in the records. In fact, Indonesia and Liberia have already done so, and their statements will be included in the official record. Papua New Guinea has discussed with the Secretariat how they can cut down the time they need to take.


I would like to ask speakers in particular to lay stress on and address themselves to the Resolution on the subject contained in Document C 79/LIM/41 in particular. I trust that you will take these points into consideration. If this suggestion is acceptable to delegates, we shall proceed directly to discussion-and I see no objections.

I. A. RONQUILLO (Philippines): I thank the Assistant Director-General, Dr. Lucas for his comprehensive introduction of this item. I showed to us the opportunities and problems provided by the extension of the Extended Economic Zone to coastal states, and also to FAO.

The Philippine Delegation has considered in depth the overall programme of the potential role of FAO in its desire to assist developing coastal states to enable them to derive maximum benefits from the fisheries in their exclusive economic zones in document C 79/21.

We commend the Director-General for such a comprehensive programme thereby keeping the FAO abreast with the new developments emerging from the third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea-that is the concept of the extended jurisdiction of coastal states up to a limit of 200 nautical miles off their shores, known as the EEZ.

In this regard the developing coastal states have to depend upon the expertise and experience of FAO on these matters and it is very timely that FAO has prepared plans of action for such assistance, to enable them to derive maximum benefits from the fisheries in their EEZ.

The Philippines as one of the coastal states which recently established an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, welcomes FAO's activities along these lines.

The Philippines hosted with FAO a workshop on fisheries joint venture early this year in Manila. These activities are badly needed by developing coastal states so that they could reap full benefits from such joint ventures or bilateral arrangements.

We have embarked on a development programme in the exploration and exploitation of the tuna resources, which are fished not only within the EEZ, and the territorial sea but also within the archipelagic waters as well; a unique condition obtaining in our country. At the same time, biological studies and stock assessments of the fisheries are being undertaken in cooperation with neighbouring states where such tuna stocks may be present. Further assistance from FAO on these studies are necessary as we very well know that such researches are better undertaken in a cooperative way on a regional basis.

We therefore support a programme on the formation of a more permanent fishery body of FAO in a region concerned primarily with this specific task as it will be more effective to assist developing coastal states in the development of their marine resources, leading to more successful managment programme of their fishery resources, especially on shared fish stocks such as tunas.

As is necessary, the Philippines has defined its national fisheries policies and set its general strategies on fisheries development and management. It is one of the most developed fishing nations in South East Asia, yet it has just reached self-sufficiency in its fish requirement. We therefore fully support FAO for more development assistance especially from joint ventures and other investment projects.

We believe in the concept that FAO should be more active and more systematic in its approach in giving advice to governments on issues arising from the extension of jurisdiction over the living resources in the exclusive economic zone.

We therefore give our full support and co-sponsor the draft resolution on the programme of assistance in the development and management of fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

Further, we support the Director-General's plans for future actions especially to strengthen the regional fisheries bodies of FAO to make them more responsible to the new ocean regime and increase the capability of FAO to provide more funds for development assistance to regional fisheries programmes. To this end, such regional offices must be further supported financially by the member nations in the region.

We welcome the FAO's leadership to encourage potential donor nations to support selected activities or projects of developing coastal nations to enable them to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the new ocean regime, as well as its plans to intensify its pre-investment work and preparation for investment work.


The Philippines (as stated by the Head of our Delegation, Natural Resources Minister, José J. Leido, Jr. In Plenary) is offering to host a regional workshop or a consultative meeting on Development and Management of Fisheries in the EEZ in late 1980 as a preparation for the proposed World Technical Conference on this subject to be held in 1982 as sponsored by FAO.

H. EMADI (Iran): Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in this session, even though it looks to me that my recommendation may not exactly fit with the order of today's talk. I probably should have brought it up in yesterday's session of "Agriculture: Toward 2000", but in regard to my speciality, I decided to discuss it today.

I would like to inform you that unfortunately neither in previous documents C 79/33 and C 79/24, and normally, nor in document C 79/29, has attention been given to the inland fisheries, to help and persuade developing and developed countries to plan, develop, and manage their own inland fisheries.

With regard to the recent constant decline in marine resources, resulting from pollution and over-fishing, which was partly discussed by Dr. Lucas yesterday, it is necessary to benefit from many possible inland water resources for fish culture in different countries.

Just as an example, I would like to say that in the southern part of the Caspian Sea, the northern waters of Iran, the yearly catch of different commercial fishes was about 30, 000 tons or more per year, up to 25 years ago. But in the recent years it has declined down to 6, 000 to 8. , 000 tons per annum, including delivered catch to the fisheries and local consumption. Today all the catches from the southern Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, with a total shore line of 2, 500 km. . and the small inland products, is something around 20, 000 tons per year which provides a per capita of only 600 grams of aquatic products for a population of over 35, 000, 000, which provides the necessary animal protein ration for only six complete meals. This is only about 5 percent of the world's average, referred to in document C 79/21.

We believe that with industrialization of developing countries and increasing growth rate of world population, it is impossible or at least a very hard and time consuming process to prevent and control pollution and over-fishing in order to increase the resources and bring them up at least to the level of two decades ago.

One of the very urgent and important tasks to increase the animal protein production in a worldwide scheme, in which FAO can play a very important roll, is to help developing countries to establish their own inland fisheries, in order to build up fish culture plans, by using their inland water resources, such as lakes, rivers, and other reservoirs and to build up fish culture ponds.

We have just delivered a project to our new Government to establish an inland fisheries, and have suggested the build up of at least a large fish culture plan in each of the 24 Provinces. We have forecast that by the end of a five-year project, we will be able to produce at least 30, 000 tons of fresh water fish per year which will be about two times more than today's lands of our catch in the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

We believe that FAO should pay much more attention to the development of inland fisheries, in developing and developed countries. This could be very important regarding the following points of view:

1. On small-or large-scale, inland fish culture can be done in combination with agriculture even in the rural areas.

2. There is a very pronounced need for animal protein in almost all countries and this is a rather easy, quick, and economic way to increase world protein production.

3. In comparison with some of the ocean fisheries, such as in Iran, much less effort is needed to produce the same quantity of fish in ponds, than catching in the sea. For example each hectare of fish culture pond can produce three to four tons of Chinese Carp, while at the time the catchable fish in the southern part of the Caspian Sea is at the most 10 kg. per hectare.

4. By increasing fish production in inland waters, less pressure will be put on some marine fishes and this will give a good chance to the depleted species of fish to rehabilitate and increase their resources.


5. And most important of all not all the countries have ocean and sea borders.

I would like to suggest that FAO in its future conferences allocates a special session to the planning and development of inland fisheries.

CHAIRMAN: I thank the Chinese delegation for having handed in a written statement which will be included in the verbatim records. I thank them very much for this strike on the side of economy.

D. H. J. ABEYAGOONASEKERA (Sri Lanka): My delegation would like to thank Mr. Lucas for the very lucid and comprehensive introduction he gave us last evening on this subject.

We have listened with great interest to the discussions which took place at the recent Council Meeting and at the last COFI Meeting on this important subject. As everyone knows, the major event affecting marine fisheries is the emerging new regime of the seas consequent on the deliberations at the Law of the Sea Conference in the United Nations. This unique event brought under the national jurisdiction of coastal states large expanses of water. Therefore we welcome the Director-General's Programme for the Development of Resources in the Exclusive Economic Zones as a timely response to this new situation.

We are gratified to note that considerable funds have been obtained already for the proposed $35 million programme and we sincerely hope that both countries and donor agencies who are in a position to assist the FAO will do so in order to implement this useful and essential programme.

Sri Lanka shares the view that increased sea-fish production is possible only by means of greater exploitation of the under-exploited fish resources. Unlike many coastal countries, our presently under-exploited sea-fish resources consist only of migratory pelagic species of fish such as the tuna and bill fishes. Therefore we have a special constraint on the exploitation and management of fish resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone. Any programme for the exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone's resources should take into consideration the migratory nature of the fish in our waters.

As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, we have already received help from FAO in drawing up the necessary fisheries legislation to enforce the laws pertaining to the Exclusive Economic Zone. However, we require assistance in other fields. In the first place, a prerequisite for planning large-scale exploitation of fishery resources must take into consideration an assessment of our resources. Our present estimates of the resources are still not accurate enough. Precise estimates are therefore essential for any forward planning. Secondly, we require skilled personnel to undertake training of local fishermen in purse-seining, tuna long-line fishing and in the operation of ocean-going fishing vessels. Thirdly, international assistance is required for preventing poaching by vessels of other countries and for maintaining proper surveillance of the territorial waters within our Exclusive Economic Zone. Lastly, we would like to enter into joint ventures both with the public and private sectors for the exploitation of the high value species of fish, so that the funds generated by the sale of such fish could be utilised for the import of low value species of fish which could meet the nutrition requirements in our daily diet.

While we appreciate the new thrust of this programme we would wish to remind the FAO that the pursuit of this programme should not be at the expense of other important programmes such as aquaculture and small-scale fisheries, because it should not be forgotten that not all countries are beneficiaries of the ocean regime.

We in Sri Lanka attach great importance to the development of inland fisheries. Ours is a country that is largely dependent on river and tank irrigation for agriculture. The existence of such a large number of water bodies in all parts of the island which could be developed into fish breeding centres to augment the supply of fish in the country through the integrated rural development programmes of my country will contribute greatly towards the goals of self-sufficiency in food. We are therefore grateful to FAO for the assistance which is being provided by the Aquaculture Programme.

We are also happy to note that the Fisheries Department of FAO has stated that the development of small-scale fisheries will be a major concern. However, we do not see clearly how the EEZ programmes could help in this sphere and therefore would like further elaboration. What Sri Lanka would like to see would be more intense, short but effective technical assistance programmes. We therefore hope that, even though the Indian Ocean Programme will cease to exist at the end of this year, some other project will take its place to provide this assistance which by its very nature cannot be foreseen nor planned in advance.


In this context we are pleased to hear that FAO in the execution of its programmes of assistance to developing States to manage and exploit their resources in the EEZ is planning to provide this assistance through a series of regional management units. We appreciate particularly these efforts at decentralization and at bringing these technical units into the arena where the real problems exist and action takes place.

We understand that the Indian Ocean activities will also be handled by smaller regional units. We wish to take this opportunity to offer host facilities in Sri Lanka for the unit which would include my country. We thank FAO f or what it has done so far and appreciate and support the recommendations which are being put to us for consideration now.

Finally, in consideration of the importance of this Programme and the impact that it would have on countries which are now being vested with the EEZs in the developing countries, we would request this Conference to approve the draft resolution which is presented along with document C 79/LIM/41 for adoption to which Sri Lanka is a signatory.

CHAIRMAN: Before we go on to the next speaker, I would like to announce that Thailand has handed in a written statement which will be recorded in the official documents.

Whereas there is a limitation on the number of speakers, there is no limit on the number of written statements which can be handed in. Everybody, for that matter, can hand in a written statement.

A. ELHONSALI (Maroc): Avant d'examiner la proposition de mise en valeur et de la gestión des peches dans la ZEE contenue dans le document C 79/21, permettez-moi de dire quelques mots sur le secteur de la pèche maritime au Maroc.

La pèche occupe une place importante dans l'economie nationale. Les prises se situent entre 250 000 et 300 000 tonnes par an. L'industrie de transformation du poisson occupe le troisième rang des industries exportatrices.

Du point de vue social, le secteur emploie environ 23 000 marins-pècheurs, 28 000 personnes travaillent dans l'industrie de transformation et quelque 5 000 autres dans les activités annexes globales; plus de 50 000 families tirent leur subsistance de la pèche.

Consciente de l’importance de ce secteur, les pouvoirs publics marocains ont pris en 1973 un certain nombre de mesures destinées à favoriser le développement de la flottille de pèche sur le pian quantitatif et qualitatif. Ces mesures ont trait notamment à l’octroi de primes aux investissements pouvant aller jusqu'à 30 pour cent du montant global de l’ investissement, à l'extension des limites de pèche à 70 milles marins, à la promulgation d'un nouveau Code de pèche et enfin à l’amelioration de la productivité de la pèche artisanale, en particulier la creation de cooperatives de marins-pècheurs. Parailèlement, des études devaient ètre entreprises avec le concours de la FAO pour determiner les stocks de poisson que recele la ZEE et permettre une exploitation rationnelle des ressources, tache difficile en raison des nombreuses incursions de navires de pèche d'un grand nombre de pays dans cette zone.

Malgré certains aspects positifs, ees mesures se sont avérées cependant insuffisantes pour permettre un décollage reel de la pèche dans notre pays.

Devant cette situation, et en raison de nombreux problèmes complexes qui se posent dans cette branche, le Gouvernement marocain prévoit le renforcement des structures administratives chargées des peches par la creation prochaine d'une entité "pèche" à un niveau élevé.

Le Maroc a toujours collaboré étroitement avec les organisations internationales, en particulier la FAO. Les experts de cet organisme dépèchés chez nous ont fourni une assistance appreciable aussi bien sur le plan scientifique (evaluation des peches) que sur le plan de la formation.

Il serait done souhaitable que cet organisme augmente davantage sa contribution.

Ma delegation a constaté avec plaisir que des propositions dans ce sens ont été faites dans le document C 79/21.


Certes, le Maroc dispose déjà de certains moyens pour faire face aux nouveaux problèmes découlant de l’institution de la ZEE. Il possedè des structures administratives et l’ infrastructure nécessaire pour cela (Institut scientifique des peches, Ecole de peche, ports de peche). Il a déjà entrepris des études sur les evaluations de stocks; il peut envisager dfaméliorer les circuits de distribution, et les moyens de manutention.

En outre, le Maroc a signé avec un certain nombre de pays ayant une grande experience en matière de peche. Ces pays pourraient apporter leur contribution notamment par l'evaluation des stocks en declarant les prises effectuées dans la ZEE, le renforcement des infrastructures de peche comme l'aménagement de ports de peche ou la construction d'usines de traitement de poisson.

Comme la plupart des pays en développement, le Maroc ne sera pas en mesure, avec ses seuls moyens, d'établir un type de programme de peche exigé par le nouveau regime. C'est pourquoi le Maroc adhère pleinement aux propositions d'assistance technique présentées par la FAO concernant la mise en valeur et la gestión des ressources dans la ZEE. Il s'agit en premier lieu de renforcer l'action déjà menée au Maroc par cette organisation concernant l’identification des stocks de poisson et existant à l'intérieur de la ZEE ainsi que celle menée en matière de formation professionnelle de techniciens de la péche, en particulier par l’ organisation de stages pour cadres supérieurs specialises.

Sur le plan de l’exploitation des ressources vivantes, nous avons assistè, sinon à une absence de gestión rationnelle, du moins à une mauvaise gestión des ressources de la mer. Je n'en veux comme exemple que la region du Comité des peches de l’Atiantique Centre-Est dont mon pays est membre, qui se trouve etre une zone où l’exploitation a été effectuée d'une fagon anarchique. Et malgré l'intense productivité des eaux de cette partie de l’Atiantique de l'Ouest, des signes de Surexploitation apparaissent déjà pour certains stocks.

C'est pourquoi mon pays fonde son plan de gestión des ressources sur les deux principes fondamentaux suivants:

1) Renforcement des capacites scientifiques existantes.

2) Concertation sur le niveau regional, car, quels que soient les efforts consentís sur le plan national, la réussite d'une politique de gestión suppose, compte tenu des déplacements et des migrations du poisson, une cooperation sur le plan regional.

Pour le Maroc, le COPACE constitue un des terrains pour débattre avec les pays freres africains et les pays amis des mesures et moyens de renforcer cette cooperation.

Par ailleurs, ma delegation voudrait souligner ici que deux points importante n'ont pas été envisages dans le programme présente par la FAO: il s'agit du controle et de la surveillance des peches dans le ZEE, et les études à entreprendre pour la determination du choix de type de bateaux et de techniques de peches à utiliser dans la ZEE.

Pour le Maroc, le problème du controle et de la surveillance de la ZEE se pose avec beaucoup d'acuite et il est apparu clairement qu'il ne sert à rien de consentir des efforts pour le développement des peches nationales de la ZEE, si celle-ci continue à etre fréquentée et exploitée par des flottes étrangères dont le seul souci demeure la rentabilité de leurs navires.

Le Maroc a bien sur passe des accords de péche avec certains pays pour que ceux-ci puissent exercer leur activité dans un cadre legal, mais beaucoup d'autres flottes péchent dans la ZEE au mépris des réglements nationaux et internationaux.

Le problème va done s'aggraver avec l’ institution de la ZEE des 200 milles mar ins. Il semble done que la FAO pourrait dans la limite de sa competence et bien entendu dans le respect des droits souverains des Etats, se pencher sur ce problème et essayer de suggérer des solutions comme, par exemple, l’organisation d'une surveillance conjointe de plusieurs pays intéressés par la ZEE ou par l’intervention de la FAO auprès des pays contrevenants, soit par toute autre mesure appropriée susceptible de mettre fin à cette situation préjudiciable aux intéréts des pays ayant institué une ZEE et qui annihile tous les efforts louables entrepris par la FAO pour permettre aux Etats en développement de tirer une part optimum des ressources se trouvant dans la ZEE.

Le deuxième point qui mériterait aussi, à mon avis, de figurer dans le programme de la FAO concerne les études qui devraient etre menées pour la determination des techniques de péche et le choix de type de bateaux.

Il a été constaté, en effet, que la stagnation de la production halieutique peut provenir de l'inadaptation de la flottille de péche aux différentes méthodes de péche, cette flottine se contentant


donc d'exploiter les pécheries traditionnelles. La FAO pourrait done se pencher sur ce problème qui concerne les questions de taille, d'age, de conception des navires, les techniques de pèche, les engins de pèche, et la localisation des zones de pèche dans la ZEE.

Tels sont les commentaires et les propositions que ma delegation avait l'intention de formuler sur le programme FAO, programme encore une fois que nous appuyons pleinement.

La delegation marocaine renforce par ailleurs son appui aux programmes ZEE presentes par la FAO en se portant co-auteur de la resolution sur le Programme d'assistance au développement et à la gestión des pécheries dans les zones économiques, resolution dont le contenu répond à nos preoccupations et à nos aspirations en matière de développement des peches nationales dans le cadre du nouveau regime des peches institué par l’établissement de la ZEE.

C. RIGOPOULOS (Greece): First I wish to express my satisfaction to the Secretariat for the preparation of the very interesting and informative document referring to the Development and Mangement of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones, and to compliment Mr. Lucas on hiscomprehensive introduction. This document gives a concise report on the new situation created by the new regime of the ocean as a result of the establishment of the 200-mile economic zone.

The sea regions from which the world fish catch comes have, as a whole, been brought under the jurisdiction of the coastal states. A new situation now arises for fisheries which will affect both the quantity of the fish catch and its allocation and consumption among the different countries.

The fish catch by a considerable number of ships of various nations will, under the new regime, come into the hands of one single nation which has jurisdiction over the waters.

The issue which now arises is to take all necessary action towards the development and management of fisheries in Exclusive Zones, so that the coastal states, as well as the whole world, will benefit as much as possible.

FAO's decision to provide developing coastal states with technical experience and financial aid to enable them to take full advantage of fisheries within the zone of their jurisdiction will substantially contribute to the development and rational management of fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zones.

FAO’s assistance in assessing the stocks in the zones under the jurisdiction of the coastal countries must be considered a first priority since the quantity and the quality of the fish catch will assist in the establishment of the management policy to be pursued by the coastal states and the determination of their surpluses for foreign fleets.

The objectives of the Director-General's Programme of Assistance are, as regards the new ocean regime, those imposed by the circumstances. Wè believe that the existence of rules under which coastal states may allow foreign fishing ships to operate in their Exclusive Economic Zones are necessary. The principle of equal treatment, as well as the recognition of the historical rights of foreign fleets, must be considered in this case.

Care should also be taken for foreign fleets which, because of the new regime, will have to face problems of fishing fields resulting in their part-time occupation or even in their non-occupation. The problem of those fleets will remain as long as the establishment of fisheries policies is not determined by the coastal states.

Our country believes that FAO should take a more active and systematic approach in advising governments on subjects resulting from the extension of their jurisdiction over the biological resources of the sea. FAO should also play a leading role in encouraging external funds for development programmes necessary to the coastal states to assist them in facing the new situation.

The role of the FAO regional services is of great importance in the assessment of fish stocks, the development of fishery control, the promotion of agreements for the exploitation of excess stocks and also for the prevention of sea pollution which will unfavourably affect the fish stocks.

In certain areas the establishment of small management units is also advisable, ifthe necessity arises.

It is necessary and urgent that the Coastal States determine their fishery policies for the zones which came under their jurisdiction in accordance with the new regime and, in particular, to define the objectives of their policies on the basis of which the procedures and methods for their achievement will be considered.


Greece is very much interested and intends to continue its assistance and to participate fully in every effort towards the development of fisheries in the developing coastal countries.

Furthermore, we wish to emphasize the need for FAO, in close cooperation with FAO member countries, to undertake a full study for the application of moderm plans, technical programmes and rules for the fishing exploitation, preservation, utilization and development of the fishing resources with emphasis on ecology and to the problems of environment that have been created and are multiplied with the population increase and the human activity and directly or indirectly affect fishery and agriculture.

Finally, we propose the necessity for a closer observation of the whole matter and also frequent information to the member states of the progress on this subject.

CHAIRMAN: New Zealand and Uganda have handed in statements and these will be included in the official report.

S. TRINGIN (Papua New Guinea):Mr. Chairman, as stated in the Plenary session, Papua New Guinea is vitally concerned with the development and management of the fisheries resources in our 200-mile fisheries zone.

These renewable resources offer a unique opportunity for us and our Pacific neighbours to gain sizeable economic benefits from a resource not yet fully exploited.

Approximately 70% of the world tuna harvest is taken from the Pacific Ocean, 20% from the Atlantic Ocean and 10% from the Indian Ocean. The western Pacific has the largest tuna fisheries in the world and 45% of the world tuna harvest is taken from this area, twice as much as is taken from the eastern Pacific, and four times as much as is taken from the Atlantic.

While the full extent of the tuna stocks in the western Pacific has yet to be properly assessed, experts agree increased production from the eastern Pacific and Atlantic is unlikely. However, it is recognised that the western Pacific stocks are not being fully utilised and that, in fact, production can be increased substantially, perhaps even doubled to some 800, 000 tons or more a year.

As much as 100, 000 tons of tuna has been harvested within our 200-mile fisheries zone in a year's time. As raw fish in the United States tuna market, this tonnage has a value of $100 million U. S. dollars; fully processed as canned tuna its value would come to some 250 million U. S. dollars, a figure of real significance to any nation, particularly a developing one such as ourselves.

World wide demand for tuna has doubled during the past ten years and the current accelerated demand indicates this trend will continue. However, the available stocks are, for the most part, being fully utilised, therefore, the increased world demand for tuna will cause a continuing upward movement in fish prices.

Distant water fishing nations and large tuna processing companies are looking to the undeveloped, rich fishing areas in the western Pacific as a new sources of tuna to meet the world's demand for tuna.

Last year foreign tuna vessels based in our country harvested nearly 50, 000 tons of skipjack, but we received only a small percentage of the full value of this catch.

Virtually none of the tuna caught in our waters was consumed in our country, it was all exported to overseas canneries where people from other nations more wealthy than us found employment packing our fish for developed nations to eat.

Clearly, an industry which uses foreign-owned and manned vessels with no shore side support facilities contributes little to the developing economy. However, there is no way that we Pacific islanders can take over these vital functions at this stage, therefore, we must work towards a realistic localisation schedule for the entire industry. Until such time as nations such as ourselves take a determined stand to achieve those benefits which are rightly ours, we can expect little progress in building our own industrial capabilities which will allow us to take our rightful place in the developed world.

While our efforts to gain full benefits have yet to bear real fruit, we do know what we want and to achieve our objectives we have established a set of principals to guide us on our way.

Our first and most basic principal is that our fisheries resources will be developed for the optimal benefit of the people of Papua New Guinea.


Papua New Guinea will not enter into any long-term agreement which does not adhere to this basic concept. To achieve it, however, we will grant favored status to those who help us.

In determining how we intend to develop our full resource potential, we have encountered many problems and effected solutions, which, if applied on a regional basis, can bring real benefits to the developing countries in the region.

Management of the resources is a basic problem encountered by most developing countries. Papua New Guinea and other member nations of the South Pacific Forum hold strongly to the concept that coastal States have the sovereign right to manage the stocks which occur within their fisheries zones.

Unlike coastal States with continental shelves and diversified fisheries stocks, the typical small Pacific nation has only tuna in its surrounding seas and it is this species on which we must rely if we are to derive any real benefits from our oceanic resources.

Recognising that tunas are a highly migratory species that know no political boundaries and move from one nation's zone to another, Papua New Guinea recognises the need for nations sharing stocks of tuna or other species to cooperate on their conservation and management.

This view differs from that put forth by another nation which states that highly migratory species must be managed by an international organisation to which all nations with an interest in the resource can participate.

Papua New Guinea strongly feels that only those nations which share stocks have the right to make decisions about their management.

A distant-water fishing nation that does not share stocks with another nation or nations, should have no right to make decisions about the management of such stocks.

Distant-water fishing nations that do not share stocks with another nation or nations should have no right to make decisions about the management of such stocks, however, those distant-water fishing nations who presently harvest these stocks could be invited to participate in recommending measures for the conservation and optimum utilisation of such stocks.

It must be emphasised that it is the sovereign right of a coastal State to make the final determination as to who can fish in its zone and under what conditions.

Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Forum members hold that it is the right of every nation to plan and develop their resources in a manner which will bring optimal benefits to them.

If a State or a group of coastal States can structure a fishery which can harvest the total allowable catch with their own vessels, vessels not authorised by the coastal State or States involved should have no rights to fish in that region.

Coastal States with established fisheries of their own should also have the right to restrict certain types of fishing in their zones in order to prevent excessive competition to their own fisheries by larger more effective vessels belonging to distant-water fishing nations.

Unless these basic principals are observed, meaningful development of a nation's fisheries resources becomes impossible, as that nation cannot say just who can and cannot fish its waters.

Having control over our fisheries zone is, therefore, a non-negotiable subject. Recognition of this basic fact should cause those nations and large tuna processing companies which want long-term access to fish in our zones to intensify their efforts to contribute real and meaningful developments within the area, and, thereby bring to developing coastal States the type of industrial development they can only achieve with the full cooperation of the distant-water fishing nations.

The 200-mile fisheries zone came about largely through the efforts of South American countries unilaterally declaring 200-mile zones in the eastern Pacific in order to derive more benefits from their offshore tuna fisheries which were being intensively fished by distant-water fishing nations with few local benefits.

The Law of the Sea Conference later confirmed the concept of 200-mile exclusive economic zones. This was done primarily to insure that developing nations would be able to gain real benefits from their fisheries resources and not be dictated to by the larger more developed fishing nations as well as to insure the proper conservation and management of the fisheries stocks.


Remove the basic concept of sovereign rights of coastal States and we, the South Pacific nations, will be unable to gain the full benefits from the only real resource which occurs in our waters-the tunas.

How then can effective cooperation and management of our vast tuna stocks be achieved?

Papua New Guinea, in cooperation with ten other independent nations, all members of the South Pacific Forum, has formed a fisheries organisation known as the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency whose primary objectives will be to assist member States to co-ordinate and harmonise policy of the Law of the Sea so as to ensure the maximum benefits for the people and the region as a whole.

Towards this end the Agency will also collect, analyse, evaluate and disseminate to members statistical and biological information relating to the fisheries resources in the region, particularly as they pertain to tuna.

On request, the Agency will assist with matters pertaining to negotiations of fisheries agreements and surveillance and enforcement activities. The Agency will also collect and disseminate information on prices, shipping, processing and marketing of fish and fisheries products.

The Agency will not carry on research programmes, it will confine its activities to that of data gathering and advisory services to members who shall, by acting through concensus agree on what sort of action they will follow in the management of the stocks shared between them.

Recognising that a tremendous amount of research needs to be done throughout the Pacific before the real state of the fisheries can be known, and being aware that no single nation could begin to carry out such a programme on its own, Papua New Guinea and the members of the South Pacific Forum support the concept of creating a second larger body within the meaning of Article 64 of the ICNT of the Law of the Sea comprised of coastal States who share the stocks and the distant-water fishing nations who may not share their jurisdiction, but fish them.

While the precise functions of this second body have yet to be agreed upon, Papua New Guinea sees it primarily as an organisation which will conduct and coordinate research throughout the region and recommend measures for the conservation and optimum utilisation to the coastal States who could exercise their sovereign rights in effecting management control. Such an organisation would however have no regulatory powers and could only make recommendations of such measures to the coastal States.

The management problems which have manifested themselves in the eastern tropical Pacific must be avoided in establishing this new regime in the western Pacific.

As so little is known about the state of the stocks at this stage the organisation's initial work should focus on a widespread programme of research to determine if it will be necessary to place certain populations of highly migratory species under regulation.

The conduct of research is a technical matter which should not generate any particularly difficult problems.

Should such research reveal certain stocks are in need of regulation, it is not likely that the quotas recommended for a particular species within the region will be opposed.

Problems will arise on how the stocks will be allocated between the nations which share them and the terms under which distant-water fishery nations that do not share stock jurisdiction will be allowed access.

While resolving these issues will prove difficult, a system which allows the coastal nations to share the economic wealth of the fisheries without necessarily developing their own fishing capabilities will be essential in view of the limited capabilities of many small Pacific nations.

To accomplish this basic objective it will first be necessary to have the wide-base body scientifically determine iust who shares what stocks of fish. This is particularly important as recent research indicates there are at least five sub-populations of skipjack occurring across the Pacific, each of which will probably have to be managed as a separate fishery.

The research organisation will then have to determine just how much fishing should be done each year to best serve regional objectives.

Finally, the real problem must be resolved on how the total catch quota for each stock placed under regulation should be allocated between the coastal nations in whose waters the particular stocks occur.


Papua New Guinea feels the only satisfactory method of resolving the allocation of the quota is by negotiation between the political leaders of the nations who share the stocks.

Allocation could for example be made on the basis of any agreed-on set of weighted criteria such as historic catches, population size, length of coastline, size of fisheries zones, value of the resource, economic trade offer, etc. .

When the leaders have allocated the annual quota, then each State would be able to manage their allocation as they deem in their best interest.

Small States with no fishing or processing capabilities could sell rights to fish their zone to the highest bidder, on their own or in cooperation with their neighbour or neighbours.

Larger States who have developed their own fishing and processing capabilities could restrict entry to vessels of their own and their joint venture partners.

Such a system will ensure that proper attention is given to the conservation of the stocks while still ensuring that the coastal nations in whose waters the stocks occur are able to derive some real benefit from their resource and maintain control over their economic zones.

Early next year officials of the South Pacific Forum will meet to discuss the principles under which they wish to see such an organisation within the meaning of Article 64 of the ICNT formed.

When concensus on these principles has been agreed, the South Pacific Forum will consider issuing an invitation, probably toward the latter part of 1980, to interested States to meet to discuss the formation of such an organisation.

Papua New Guinea is of the opinion that it will be some ten years before regulation of the tuna stocks in the western Pacific is required, if at all.

What will more likely ensure conservation of the tuna stocks is the economics of the fishery. The rising cost of fuel and its growing scarcity will limit the activities of all but the most successful long-range vessels, thus reducing effort.

However, this will probably be offset to some degree by the establishment of joint venture fleets in those coastal States with tuna stocks, thus achieving in part some benefits for the small developing countries in the region.

There is of course a need for control of fisheries now, in order to ensure licence fees are paid and fishing regulations observed.

The present system whereby the distant-water fishing nations negotiate unilaterally with those countries with large known resources does have shortcomings. Access to good fishing grounds is restricted because the long-range fishing vessels cannot afford to purchase fishing licences or pay royalty payments to all States, so they deal only with those nearest them and with known resources.

This results in many countries receiving no cash benefits and the long-range vessels being forced to operate less effectively and profitably by being restricted as to where they can go.

A possible solution to this problem is that access arrangements and fees could be structured in such a way as to allow foreign vessels access to the region as a whole with payments for fish taken being directly related to the amount actually harvested from within a nation's fisheries zones.

Such arrangements could best be effected through a regional organisation where neighbouring nations who share a stock agree on a unified set of terms for access to the area and a fee for fish taken.

While the members of the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency have not agreed to such an arrangement with the distant-water fishing nations, one of the prime reasons for establishing the Agency was to "coordinate and harmonise their policies on Law of the Sea so as to ensure the maximum benefits for their people and the region as a whole and specifically to harmonise fisheries policy in the region and to adopt a coordinated approach in their negotiations with distant-water fishing nations".

Papua New Guinea and other members of the Fisheries Agency are now working toward the development of a cost-effective surveillance and enforcement system, which considering the vast distances involved, is a truly formidable task, complicated by the lack of funds from all countries in the region.


The need for such a system is not to protect the resource from overfishing as this could hardly occur without massive fleets which are not yet in existence and could be detected in any case.

The need is to ensure that foreign vessels recognise that failure to take licences, provide data and fees for fish taken can result in heavy fines, the loss of their catch, or even their vessel if they are apprehended fishing illegally.

The costs and problems of detecting and apprehending vessels in such a large area are indeed formidable, however, the threat of detection is very real because of the numbers of national ships and aircraft operating in the region.

Further, confirmed detection of illegal fishing by any vessel could well lead to "black-balling" of that vessel, or its owner even if it is not actually apprehended, a concept which received support at the recent FAO Committee of Fisheries meeting. Such "black-balling" would result in a detected violator not being able to fish legally anywhere in the region.

With the assistance of the United States, Papua New Guinea is examining the feasibility of establishing a satellite surveillance system in the south western Pacific.

The hardware for such a system is now available and can tell us where a vessel is located, its name, and even its daily catch provided such vessels carry transponders and key in their daily catches.

Carrying the transponders can be a condition of licencing and keying in the catch should not matter to the vessel if the same fee is payed wherever it fishes.

In the next few years significant changes will occur in the harvesting, processing, marketing and management of the Pacific tuna stocks.

The growing demand for tuna during the next ten years will give the western Pacific nations a much stronger negotiating position with the large fishing nations than they ever enjoyed before.

The control of coastal States over all fisheries stocks, including tunas, will bring drastic changes to the world tuna industry which will surely benefit those developing nations which cooperate on the conservation, management, utilisation and marketing of the stocks shared between them. 1/

R. PEREZ (Cuba): Saludamos al Departamento de Pesca de la FAO por el magnifico documento elaborado y puesto a nuestra disposición. Me refiero al C 79/21.

En la introducción al documento se situa corno uno de los dos objetivos primordiales que persigue la FAO con este programa, y cito, "que los países ribereños en desarrollo se aseguren una participación mas equitativa en la riqueza que se extraiga del mar".

Consideramos que este enunciado contiene una impostergable necesidad.

Nuestro país puede decir con modestia y satisfacción que ha hecho el esfuerzo necesario encaminado a asegurarse una participación más activa en la riqueza del mar, aunque estamos lejos aun de alcanzar nuestro objetivos.

Nuestro país, a pesar de dificultades que debe enfrentar, trabaja hacia ese fin; pero si de algo valiera a otros países como nosotros también en vías de desarrollo, debemos expresar que ello entraña no sólo grandes sacrificios económicos, sino también no pocas decisiones de tipo político que en la inmensa mayoría de las ocasiones chocan con los intereses ya creados en el ámbito internacional. Pero esto es sólo una parte del problema, bien difícil por cierto.

La otra parte del problema es precisamente cómo asegurar que los países ribereños, en su inmensa mayoría pobres, puedan disponer de los recursos financieros, las tecnologías, etc. , necesarios para algún día hacer realidad este propósito tan justo y necesario en el que nos empeñamos.

Con esta premisa, el esfuerzo individual y colectivo y la cooperación mutua entre los países sí se podría lograr que este programa incidiera en el establecimiento de un nuevo orden económico internacional.

1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


Recientemente en COFI enfatizamos sobre la necesidad de que todos los países en desarrollo trabajemos por la transformación de las relaciones internacionales, marcadas hoy por su carácter desigual e injusto, con el fin de crear condiciones que permitan avanzar hacia el nuevo orden económico internacional basadas en relaciones justas y equitativas.

Al desglosar las capturas totales mundiales de especies marinas reportadas por la FAO en 1975 encontramos que el 19, 3 por ciento del total de países y territorios que reportan actividades pesqueras tienen el 65, 8 por ciento de dicha captura y corresponde ésta a 33 países desarrollados; en contraposición, los países no alineados y otros en desarrollo constituyen el 81 por ciento de los países pesqueros y sólo capturaron el 34, 2 por ciento. En 1977 notamos que 84 países no alineados incrementaron sus capturas en un 7 por ciento en los últimos cinco años.

Es cierto también que nuestros países pescan más en sus zonas próximas a la costa. Por todo ello, Cuba concede gran importancia a que se haga uso adecuado de las jurisdicciones ampliadas, a que se apliquen tratos preferenciales recíprocos entre nuestros países sobre la base de que exista la colaboración y asistencia técnica idonea y que parte de esta acción cooperativa se reinvierta en el financiamiento y ayuda a los países menos desarrollados.

Insistimos en la estrecha colaboración, incluyendo las empresas conjuntas, que debe existir entre los países en desarrollo para fomentar la pesca. De ahí la trascendencia y oportunidad de la inicitativa de la FAO en el sentido de proponer y estar dispuesta a comenzar de inmediato la ejecución del programa para el desarrollo y la ordenación de las pesquerías en las zonas económicas exclusivas con sus actividades inmediatas y sus objetivos a mediano y largo plazo, el aumento de la eficacia de los órganos regionales y la necesidad de financiación que plantea.

No deben olvidar los países desarrollados su obligación moral e histórica de participar en la financiación del programa acorde con los requerimientos del mismo. Cuba les brinda su respaldo pleno en el marco de un estricto respeto por la soberanía de nuestros pueblos sobre sus recursos naturales, tomando en especial consideración los intereses de los países en desarrollo.

El énfasis que se ponga en la aplicación y éxito del programa no deberá significar, en manera alguna, que se desatiendan los intereses pesqueros de los países en desarrollo que no coincidan con el incremento de sus pesquerías en sus zonas económicas; ni tampoco afectar las actividades de la FAO relativas a la acuicultura ya que ésta tiene objetivamente la posibilidad de incrementar de un modo extraordinario la producción pesquera en un breve período de tiempo y, en consecuencia, mejorar también la alimentación de nuestros pueblos y proporcionar nuevas fuentes de trabajo.

Cuba, aunque aparece entre los países que presentaron el proyecto de resolución y está de acuerdo en general con el mismo, se reserva el derecho de proponerle algunas pequeñas modificaciones a la resolución cuando ésta se someta a debate, por cuanto al suscribir nosotros como copatrocinadores la misma estaba elaborada en algunos elementos diferentes a la forma en que ahora se nos presenta.

CHAIRMAN:Argentina has handed in a written statement for inclusion in the record.

P. NISKANEN (Finland):I shall be very brief. The new regime of the sea, particularly the extension of national jurisdictionoffers the coastal states an opportunity to take advantage of the living resources off their coasts. It also provides better possibilities for effective management measures of the fish stocks. However, to achieve both of these objectives substantial help is needed for developing countries almost in all sectors of fisheries. This was unanimously recognized a few weeks ago in the last session of the Committee on Fisheries.

It was also pointed out that FAO should assume a leading role in assisting developing coastal states in this regard. The Finnish delegation fully supports the programme presented to COFI and to this Conference in which FAO would assist these states as well within the framework of regular budget as in seeking for additional funds from external sources. My delegation is of the opinion that FAO should actively and systematically advise governments on all issues arising from the new situation so that the coastal states are able to prepare and implement such fisheries policies that take into account the extended jurisdiction.


Also the strengthening of regional fishery bodies is most important particularly in areas where several states shares the same fish stocks. Furthermore, regional bodies are in key position to help the coastal states to assess the state of fish stocks, to determine the total allowable catch, the fishing capacity of a coastal state etc. We understand, Mr. Chairman, that the development of fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones takes time and therefore we welcome the idea of the basic long-term studies which will provide the necessary information for future action. Time is also needed for planning investment projects in developing countries and to find necessary resources of funds.

On the other hand these countries should be able to benefit from the new regime as soon as possible but in many cases there are a lot of technical difficulties. However, these difficulties could be overcome, at least partly, by joint ventures and other bilateral agreements. In this respect we consider it important that FAO should encourage and help in planning ventures between developing and developed countries.

In the Programme of Work and Budget we notice with satisfaction that the extension of fisheries jurisdiction has been duly taken into account in all sectors of fisheries. We are glad to see that there is substantial increase of extra-budgetary funds particularly. fisheries exploitation and utilization-it is item 2. 2. 2. In this context I would like to stress the importance of item 2. 2. 1-Fisheries Information-which will form a firm basis and is necessary in planning the exploitation and management of fish stocks as well as other activities in the field of fisheries.

Mr. Chairman, Finland fully supports the Programme of Work and Budget presented to us and we recognize that it will provide to FAO the framework to assume the leading role in developing fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, Finland wants to support the Draft Resolution C 79/LIM/41 presented by both Portugal and other countries.

CHAIRMAN: We would like to announce that Sierra Leone has handed in a written statement to be included in the official document of this Commission.

S. ANGOY (Guyana): The Delegation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana congratulates you on your appointment as Chairman. My delegation wishes to express its appreciation of the skill and efficiency with which you are conducting the difficult business of this Commission. My delegation supports the resolution on "Programme of Assistance in the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones"-Document C 79/LIM/41.

There is no doubt that developing and managing fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones would provide a much needed addition to the protein requirements of a large number of people in developing countries and coastal states, who are presently denied a reasonable supply of food, due to lack of funds for the development and management of fisheries.

My delegation recognizes and pays tribute to the extraordinary leadership FAO continues to provide in this field and the assistance FAO offers to the developing countries in the management of comprehensive programmes of exploitation of the fisheries resources in their area. FAO has an efficient fisheries unit whose expertise is invaluable to developing countries.

My delegation is pleased to note that paragraph 4 of the Draf Report of Commission I, Part I, Item 6. 1, Document C 79/I/Rep/1 on the "State ot Food and Agriculture including Commodity and Trade Problems" deals with this subject-and I quote: "The growth of world fish production had slowed down because of indiscriminate fishing in the past. The Conference therefore expressed the hope the establishment of exclusive economic zones would lay the basis for substantial expansion in the future".

Mr. Chairman, my delegation also wishes to take this opportunity to place on record that Guyana has been receiving very welcome bilateral assistance from developed countries, in the fields of research, inventory of fish stocks, port development, processing installations and training. In particular we are enjoying considerable help form Japan and Canada, and also from EEC, the United Kingdom, Cuba, the USSR, and the Federal Republic of Germany, Such bilateral assistance reinforces and extends the global aims so well stated in Document C 79/21.


S. A. PARVEZ (Pakistan): The Pakistan delegation would like to be associated with the appreciation expressed to Mr. Lucas. We are grateful for the very clear and able manner in which he introduced the subject to the Commission. We have read the document C 79/21 with great interest and would like to compliment FAO on the presentation of a useful document which, besides outlining the specific issues which have arisen as a result of the new legal regime of the ocean, also provides some useful information.

We would have been happier to see more information on developing countries but, that is one of the issues confronting this meeting. The establishment of exclusive economic zones offers a tremendous challenge to FAO. The additional responsibilities cannot, we feel, be discharged by FAO's merely continuing activities long undertaken through its Regular and Field Programmes. We would therefore agree with and suggest a medium-term action plan and basic studies, with the proviso that they should be made as practical and meaningful as possible.

We would also like to stress the continuing need for close coordination among FAO fishery bodies, the UNDP, the World Bank, regional development banks, IFAD and other financing institutions, but before we go to specifics we would like to commend the initiative and foresight shown by the Director-General in assigning a high priority to the development and management of fisheries in economic zones. He very rightly pointed out that the development of fisheries under the new regime was part of the effort to build a new international economic order. To our mind, the first and basic prerequisite is the collection of data on all aspects of fisheries sectors, from the magnitude and characteristics of the resources to fish catering, processing and marketing.

It is a vital necessity to quantify results in terms which are as exact as possible. Realizing this, we in Pakistan have already acquired two 29 metres-long 200 gross tons steel-hulled fishery research vessels for the exploration of our fisheries resources in the EEZ. We hope to acquire much needed data on the resources, identification of stocks, magnitude of exploitation, resource conservation and management, but there is still a wide gulf between what we have and what is actually required. We feel that many other developing countries are in the same plight and need help. Of course this would mean additional resources. The document estimates that by the year 2000 investments required to support increased production and utilization will exceed US$30 000 million.

Viewed against this background, we strongly support the US$35 million programme to meet the special needs of developing countries in coping with the problems and opportunities arising out of the establishment of the EEZs.

We are grateful to the Government of Norway for its encouraging response and we look hopefully to the Canadian Government to fulfill its promise, made during the Fifth Session of the World Food Council. We hope that other donors will join in.

Incidentally, while we are on the subject, may we ask what is the latest state of contributions to this programme?

We would also like to mention here the importance of training. In fact, training could very well be placed before data collection. I do not want to go over at length the obvious importance of the subject but would simply stress the intensive need for training at all levels. Coming to what FAO can do to assist in this regard, we support FAO's regional bodies as we recognize the important role these bodies can and should play in providing advice on the main orientations and priorities of the programme. In addition, we would like to stress the possibility of a transfer of technology, through cooperative ventures with countries in possession of more advanced skills and techniques. This should be on two levels:first, in terms of human capabilities and, secondly, in terms of physical resources. We would be very greatly interested to hear the reactions of our colleagues from the developed countries to this proposal.

We would also be inclined to support the idea of an FAO technical conference on management and development of fisheries in 1982.

Before concluding our views on this, may we sound a note of caution. The new legal regime of the oceans should not and must nor remain an exercise on paper only. Morely extending limits to 200 miles is not enough. Those limits should be made a reality and should be recognized by everyone, irrespective of whether or not a country has directly to police its waters. This, we recognize, would require a certain amount of voluntary self-restraint, but we hope it will be forthcoming.

We would also take this opportunity of supporting the draft resolution presented by Portugal and other countries (C 79/LIM/41).


While I have just given our views on the EEZs, I should like to take this opportunity of focusing on an area of activity which, besides being important to a large number of countries, could have got lost in the euphoria over the new legal regime of the oceans. I refer here to inland fisheries. We must continue to accord first priority to the development of aquaculture in developing countries primarily, on a small scale, so as to improve the socio-economic conditions of producers at the village level. What are the possible agents of development that could be utilized in bringing about the desired change? It could be done by applying an already-known tecnique to increase production, or the establishment of private projects in which aquaculture is included in rural development projects.

We would like to mention the need for an integrated approach by the Organization to supplies of essential inputs, by improving training and extension and the dissemination of approved technology in simple language. Commercial ventures must be accorded the next priority. There are obvious constraints in undertaking commercial ventures. Acquiring the necessary capital is in itself a problem. Both national and international financial institutions are reluctant to invest in this industry. The frequent failure of new enterprises, due to inexperience, inadequate feasibility studies or lack of a supporting infrastructure, further complicates the situation. However, we feel that there are no sound reason why aquaculture should involve risks greater than other forms of farming.

Coming to the next question the gap between knowledge and practice can be bridged by the exchange of research findings and adaptive development. Besides global and regional meetings, the coordination of development work could also prove helpful.

Another useful tool could be the provision of training in aquaculture at all levels, primarily technical but also in planning and management skills.

Thirdly, on statistics, FAO's figures of yield of aquaculture resources are an approximation, but FAO is hardly to blame. Most of the data is drawnthrough national sources but, unfortunately, in most developing countries basic data is sadly lacking; consequently there is a dire need for the strengthening of national statistics.

Lastly, on the ways and means in which FAO could help and stimulate the growth of aquaculture, the most significant: constraint to expansion or intensification of aquaculture in our region is the production and distribution of seed. Most countries experience difficulty in maintaining even the present levels of seed production and still depend to a large extent on collection of wild seed, even where artificial propagation has been developed. FAO could assist member countries in experiments in fish breeding and larva rearing.

I do apologize for having spoken at such length, especially at this stage when we have a race against time, but we did deem it essential to make those points in this Commission.

M. BHIM (Libya) (interpretation from Arabic): The Libyan delegation has considered document C 79/21, concerning the development andmanagement of fisheries in EEZs and at the outset we would like to express our thanks for the excellent preparation of the document and to thank Mr. Lucas for his excellent introduction of the item. The analysis and recommendations in the document are aimed at increasing the production of fish in developing countries. We welcome this attitude as one of the ways and means of combatting hunger, and the principle that nutrition is part of the struggle to liberate human beings wherever they may be. We therefore support the efforts of the Organization. in this field.

Libya, which has a very long coastline of almost 2000 km on the Mediterranean, is convinced that marine resources are an excellent source of nutrition and pays due attention to the fisheries sector within its food security strategy. It has therefore introduced modern techniques to develop its fisheries and the exploitation of its vast coastlines. In order to accomplish this we have set up a Marine Research Institute to undertake studies on the marine environment and to determine fish stocks and species with areas for fishing, as well as fishing methods, and to define ways and means of conserving marine resources. We have equipped this centre with all the necessary laboratories, vessels, etc.

Managing fishery resources has led us to set up an association, a cooperative, of fishermen. The General Department of Marine Resources has set up a plant for canning fish. We also have close cooperation between ourselves and friendly countries in the field of fish. We have eight joint ventures:-with Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Malta, the Republic of Yemen, Mauritania, Togo and Benin-in addition to two other national ventures, in order to fish and market fish products.

We have also tried to develop aquaculture in some of our inland fisheries. We have set up the necessary refrigeration plants and established a number of dockyards in order to equip and maintain fishing vessels.


Fish production has increased from 1972 to 1978 and reached 400 tons annually.

In conclusion, we wish to express our appreciation for FAO's efforts in developing and managing fishery resources and we shall cooperate with FAO in this respect.

A. NORMAN (Angola): Nous souscrivons au projet de résolution presente par le Portugal, si bien que ladélégation de l'Angola sera très brève.

La République populaire d’Angola tient à souligner l'importance du programme visant au développement et à la gestion des pêches dans la zone économique exclusive. Je félicite, au nom de ma délégation, Le Directeur général de la FAO pour son initiative. Je profite aussi de cette occasion pour remercier la FAO de l'envoi de techniciens chargés d'évaluer la situation de notre pêche continentale. Je dois vous assurer que l'Angola, pays en développement, accueille avec grande satisfaction la proposition du Directeur général de la FAO visant à aider la mise en valeur et la gestion des pêches dans la ZEE des Etats en développement où, de façon générale, sans l'aide internationale dans le domaine des pêches, les pays en développement, y compris l'Angola, ne puissent à court terme disposer des moyens matériels suffisants pour bien profiter des possibilités qu'offre le nouveau régime des océans.

Le cas concret de l'Angola: vous savez, j'en suis persuadé, qu'outre notre qualité d'être un pays en développement, nous venons d'accéder à l'indépendance il y a à peine quatre ans et dans des conditions très difficiles qui ont même détruit notre économie. Nous nous sommes engagés dans la reconstruction nationale, et nous avons réellement besoin d'aide pour développer notre pêche. Nous ne pouvons donc que louer les initiatives telles que celle qui vient d'être prise par le Directeur général de la FAO et prions les organismes internationaux de soutenir matériellement les efforts que celui-ci poursuivra pour mettre en application son programme.

B. F. DADA (Nigeria): I would like on behalf of our delegation to congratulate the Director-Generalon the preparation of this excellent document C 79/21. While noting that the Committee on Fisherieswas instrumental to the initiation of the programme of assistance to developing coastal States in thedevelopment and management of fisheries in exclusive economic zones, the formulation of the programmehad, of course, to rest with the Fisheries Department and the Secretariat. I would also like to thankMr. Lucas, Assistant Director-General of Fisheries, for his concise presentation of the paper.

The document itself presents a clear analysis of the problems arising from the changing Law of the Sea and the fisheries of developing countries. It also confirms the unique role which FAO is expected to play in assisting the developing coastal States in their efforts to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities created by the new legal regime of the ocean.

The Leader of the Nigerian Delegation, the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture, in his statement to the Plenary, had already expressed support for the FAO Programme of Assistance for the development and management of fisheries in the new Exclusive Economic Zones. Nigeria, in 1978, promulgated the Exclusive Economic Zone Decree and thereby joined other countries which have extended their national jurisdiction to cover the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Although our continental shelf is not as broad as those of some other countries, yet with a coastline of approximately 800 km. , Nigeria can now exercise control over a larger area of sea and marine fishery resources than hitherto.

Permit me to mention that Nigeria, with a population of about 80 million people, has by far the largest market for fish in West Africa. Indeed, the estimated current fish demand is of the order of one million metric tons per annum while the total supply falls short of this figure. We have had to import fish to the tune of about 300 000 metric tonnes per annum to meet part of the local consumption. The new regime no doubt offers considerable opportunities for us to develop our inshore as well as offshore fisheries resources to meet a substantial part of our ever-increasing demand for fish. We do note pretend to have all the technical expertise and funds required to explore and exploit the resources in the extended fisheries zones and this is why we wholeheartedly welcome the Director-General's Programme of Assistance in this regard.

However, for the Programme of Assistance to be meaningful and produce a desired impact, it must be action-oriented. The five major types of activity proposed in paragraph 23 of the document are in the right direction and enjoy our support.

Firstly, there is a clear need for inter-disciplinary missions which will help to prepare policies and plans for an effective exploitation and utilisation of the resources. Nigeria will be pleased to receive such a mission in due course.


Secondly, a factual and objective assessment of theresourcesto determinetheoptimalsustainable yield is vital to the successful development and management of fisheries in the new Zones. Nigeria would welcome assistance in this area in view of the fears being expressed about the extent of fish stocks available in Nigeria territorial water and the Exclusive Economic Zones.

Thirdly, training of both professional and technical staff from developing coastal states should be given immediate priority under the programme.

Fourthly, it has been noted that the funds under the regular programme are too limited to accommodate the programme of assistance of magnitude envisaged. A sum of US$35-40 million is the estimated additional funding required over the next three to four years, according to the document under discussion. We fully endorse the Director-General's appeal for additional funding from multilateral and bilateral agencies to translate the proposals into reality.

Fifthly, our delegation fully appreciates the role of the regional bodies in the new fisheries development and management programme. We therefore support the proposal to channel some of the assistance through such bodies.

Finally, we would like to stress the importance of fisheries legislation and enforcement in the new EEZ. Not only must developing countries be assisted, where necessary, to draw up appropriate legislation to conserve the fish stocks, they should also be assisted in their programme of surveillance and the enforcement of management measures introduced. Many developing countries, including Nigeria, have in the past observed with dismay the rate at which illegal fishing is being carried out within the waters under their national jurisdiction. If the new efforts are to yield the desired results then the developing coastal states should be assisted to contain the wave of foreign fishing vessels which are illegally exploiting the resources in the new EEZ. In the opinion of our delegation the new ocean regime should encourage genuine joint fishing ventures between the developed and developing countries to the mutual benefit of both.

In conclusion I would like to reiterate the call by the Head of our Delegation that this Conference should adopt definite and strong resolutions to back up the Director-General's Programme of Assistance for Fisheries Development in the Exclusive Economic Zones. We, therefore, warmly support the draft resolution contained in C 79/LIM/41 to which we offer co-sponsorship.

H. MOKHTARI (Algerie): Je voudrais tout d'abord féliciter Monsieur le Directeur general adjoint du Departement des peches pour l'exposé liminaire qu'il nous a fait la veille en ce qui concerne la cooperation possible dans ce domaine; nous avons particulièrement apprécié le caractère pratique des actions qui sont proposées et nous tenons à assurer le Directeur general de l'appui de notre delegation pour les idées qu'il a exprimées.

Monsieur le President, la tradition de la liberté des mers reposait sur le fait que leurs ressources étaient illimi tees par rapport à la technologie dont on disposait. Cette situation a change radicalement au cours des dernières années, la rarefaction de certaines espèces importantes et la stagnation des apports ont montré que les ressources biologiques marines bien que considerables ne sont pas inépuisables.

La pression démographique entraínant un déficit alimentaire important rend plus tragique la stagnation de ces apports liée aux consequences de l’exploitation anarchique des ressources marines. De nombreux Etats, conscients de cet etat de fait, ont exercé des pressione pour étendre leur juridiction en matière de pèche. Mais l’extension de ces zones à elle seule ne suffit pas, il faudrait savoir développer leurs pèches et les gérer d'une manière rationnelle et selon les objectifs nationaux.

Le développement des pèches doit avant tout servir à combler le déficit alimentaire important. Dans plusieurs pays les techniques actuellement exploitées le sont dans un but plus commercial et mercantile que nutritionnel.

Comme nous le savons, 20% des protéines animales consommées par l’homme le sont sous forme de poisson. Ceci ne reflète pas la dépendance plus grande des pays en voie de développement vis-à-vis de cette ressource.

Si nous prenons le cas de l'Algerie, dont la production annuelle moyenne est de 40 000 tones représentant moins de 2 kg par an et par habitant, ceci est loin d'etre satisfaisant vu qu'on estime à 200 000 tonnes la demande en poisson pour 1985.


Ce développement doit se faire aussi par le biais d'une meilleure concertation et d'une collaboration regionale et sous-régionale entre pays en développement qui doivent coordonner leurs efforts pour lutter contre la malnutrition. En plus de la solution du problème de malnutrition, le développement des peches doit permettre une amelioration socio-économique des populations tributaires de la peche.

La peche en Mediterranée, par exemple, n'a jamais perdu son caractère artisanal de sorte qufelle continue à occuper une main-d'oeuvre considerable tant sur mer qu'à terre, ce qui confirme l'ampleur de cette activité dans le bassin méditerranéen. Done, pour le bassin méditerranéen et particulièrement pour les pays en développement de cette region, l'essor des peches doit se porter sur la peche industrielle pour une augmentation de la production et sur la peche artisanale pour une amelioration du niveau de vie des populations, entraínant ainsi leur sédentarisation dans les zones rurales cotières.

Le développement des peches doit etre l'un des moyens de lutte pour un meilleur equilibre entre pays pauvres et pays riches en mème temps que pour l’établissement d'un nouvel ordre économique mondial. Pour pouvoir atteindre ces differente objectifs, le développement des peches doit etre orienté selon les objectifs de développement national. Ce développement national doit se porter sur les infrastructures à terre et en mer, ainsi que sur les équipements et l'armement, cela afin de pallier la grande dépendance des pays en développement vis-à-vis des pays développés.

Le développement des peches sans une gestión rationnelle des ressources les entraínerait à péricliter. La majorité des Etats en est consciente. Car, nous le savons, il s' agit de faits et non de theories. Comme l'a souligné le Directeur general de la FAO lors de son discours à l'ouverture de la treizième session du Comité des peches, je cite: "Bien gérées, les nouvelles zones de peches exclusives constituent un tremplin naturel pour le développement économique. Ces zones de peche exclusives doivent etre gérées par les pays qui les ont établies. C'est seulement ainsi qu'elles pourront devenir la grande ressource nationale qu'elles sont en puissance".

L'extension de la juridiction nationale donne done aux pays en développement l’occasion de tirer pleinement parti des ressources se trouvant au large de leurs cotes. Cependant, peu de pays en développement, peut-étre mème aucun, sont actuellement à mème d'établir les types de programmes exiges par ce que sera le nouveau regime en raison de la méconnaissance de leurs ressources halieutiques. Cette méconnaissance ne leur permet pas de determiner la limite des captures, de controler les stocks et de promouvoir un développement des peches sans apprehension.

Ceci demontre l'urgence pour chaqué pays de connaitre l’importance et l’identification des ressources relevant de leur juridiction.

La FAO et les Organismes internationaux doivent mettre tous les moyens en oeuvre pour determiner les niveaux biologiquement exploitables des mers et des océans.

En plus de la méconnaissance des ressources, rares sont les pays en développement possédant les moyens nécessaires pour profiter pleinement des possibilités qu'offre l’extension de leur juridiction. Ce manque de moyens amènera ces pays à utiliser une assistance technique dans tous les domaines. Dans ce cadre, la FAO détient une position privilégiée pour aider les Etats cotiers dans leurs efforts en vue de faire face à tous problèmes, cela compte tenu de son experience et de l'action particulière et collective qu'elle entreprend en vue "d'améliorer le rendement de la production et l'efficacité de repartition de tous les produits alimentaires".

La FAO, en préparant un programme destiné à fournir toute l’assistance utile à ces pays, leur permettra d'atteindre leurs objectifs prioritaires d'augmentation de la production halieutique et l’amelioration de la situation socio-économique de leur population.

R. C. SOOD (India): The Declaration of Exclusive Economie Zones by several states has been the most significant development in world fisheries in recent years. The new resource frontiers have placed the bulk of marine fishery resources, which were formerly harvested by a few distant fishing nations on the principle of common heritage, under national control, While this presents a great opportunity to the developing countries for fuller exploitation of coastal resources to meet their requirements for food, employment and foreign exchange, the new regime also puts an enormous responsibility on the coastal states for rational and scientific management of the extended zones. The task warrants, besides large investments, the development of technology for assesment, harvesting and conservation of resources, post-harvest processing and the marketing of products.

FAO's Programme for providing assistance to coastal states in the management of the extended zones is indeed very timely and I am sure it will go a long way to helping the coastal states in the rational management of those zones.


India has already declared a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone extending the country's fishery jurisdiction to 2. 2 million square kilometers. The country is making serious efforts to exploit this extended fish zone through various measures, which include conducting exploratory and experimental fishing to assess and map the fishery areas, imparting training in the operation of fishing vessels, encouraging the introduction of new vessels through purchase, indigenous construction, collaboration arrangements and by charter arrangements. New and unconventional varieties of fish are being popularised and suitable facilities are being provided for marketing the catch. Financial assistance is being provided on soft lending terms.

However, looking to the immense responsibility involved, we need the assistance of FAO in different fields, such as assistance in conducting exploratory surveys by the supply of vessels, equipment and the provision of training facilities and consultancy services; the development of proper technology for the processing and marketing of unconventional and unattractive varieties of fish which have little or no market demand; evolving cheaper and more efficient fishing vessels and fishing techniques or methods for deep-sea fishing;and devising a simpler, cheaper and quicker methodology for assessing the resources.

The effective exploitation of the extended Economic Zone is of crucial importance for the welfare of the countries concerned. The whole programme of EEZ will simply remain a paper exercise if the developing countries are not assisted to survey, manage and exploit their fishery resources within their 200-mile economic zones. The magnitude of the problem can well be imagined by the fact that even though up to now 93 countries have extended their national jurisdiction, the extended area is almost two-thirds of the entire land surface of the world.

FAO has made preliminary assessments that by the year 2000 at least $30 billion will be required to support increased production and utilization. Therefore ways and means have to be found to mobilize this level of investment in suitable phases.

We would like to compliment the Director-General for the timely initiative taken by him in this direction. His proposal to have a programme of about $35 to $40 million to assist the developing countries during the next three years is very timely, opportune and critical. This is a modest beginning, bearing in mind the magnitude of the problem, but it is expected that this will have a catalytic role and will stimulate much larger investment both multilaterally and bilaterally for fisheries development. It is very encouraging to note that FAO is having discussions with multilateral and bilateral donors. Norway has already provided help and I would like to compliment them on this account. The UNDP has already promised support, as brought out by Mr. Lucas. We sincerely hope that adequate funds for supporting this very important programme will be forth coming.

The Indian delegation wholeheartedly endorses the Director-General's proposals for a Programme of Assistance in the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones, which should be of immense help to the developing countries concerned in effective exploitation of this huge resource. The regional approach with technical groups at the local level, explained by Mr. Lucas in his openning remarks, is very much a step in the right direction, and is fully commended by us.

The Indian delegation would like to extend its full support to the proposed resolution on the Programme of Assistance in the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones.

H. SY MOUSSA (Mauritanie): Les richesses halieutiques des cotes mauritaniennes ont fait l'objet depuis quelques années d'une exploitation intense par des flottes étrangères à la recherche de nouvelles zones de pèches.

Notre pays, dans le souci de preserver cette richesse a décide d'étendre sa zone de juridiction en matière de pèche à 200 milles, et la mise en application d'une politique de gestión et de développement de la zone économique exclusive. Ceci, en créant et en développant nos infrastructures de recherche en vue d'évaluer nos ressources en cooperation avec les pays cotiers intéressés; en menant une politique de promotion et de développement de la pèche artisanale par la reorientation d'une partie des populations inactives du monde rural vers la pèche maritime où les activités se trouvent limitées par le nombre d'hommes qui se livrent à cette activité et par la creation de centres de formation de pècheurs; en encourageant la creation de sociétés de pèche avec dans pays étrangers et amis; en limitant les licences de pèche aux seuls bateaux qui accepteraient de débarquer la totalité de leurs captures dans nos industries de pèche, et, enfin, en renforgant les moyens de controle et de surveillance de la zone économique exclusive. Nous souhaitons que la FAO nous apporte son concours et son experience tant sur le plan études des projets que sur le plan investissements à réaliser. Nous adressons nos remerciements aux pays amis qui nous apportent leur concours pour la realisation de nos objectifs. Nous exprimons notre satisfaction à l'égard des propositions faites par le Directeur general et relatives à l’assistance à accorder aux pays cotiers en développement et contenues dans le document C 79/21.


Nous appuyons le projet de resolution contenu dans le document C 79/LIM/41 sur le Programme d'assistance au développement et à la gestión des pècheries dans la zone économique exclusive.

Ζ. DUDKIEWICZ (Poland): During the Thirteenth Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries the Polish delegation presented in detail its position on many questions which are referred to in the EEZ Programme. In addition, I would like first of all to repeat our Government's support for both the ideas and the policies presentend in this significant document. However, in order to ensure that the Programmes becomes as effective as possible, we must take careful note of a few basic aspects.

One of them is the extent of assistance to be declared in support of the Programme, particularly its form, time and concrete methods of execution on the part of countries declaring such assistance.

During the above-mentioned Thirteenth Session of COFI, we declared our willingness to give effective assistance under this Programme. At the beginning we wish to declare that places will be available on our research vessels for ichthyologists to the extent of 18 to 24 man-months per year free of charge. We would also agree to loan a large fully-fitted ship with the crew and gear to carry out surveys on the shelves of the Indian, Pacific or Atlantic oceans, as needed. We also offer, free of charge, about 15 places to train fishery officers and other specialists in our high schools and institutes, all of them on terms to be fixed through the good services of FAO.

In further implementation of the Programme, we offer our cooperation and help in fields such as the construction of fishing vessels, the production of fishing and freezing equipment and the carrying out of scientific expertise.

Apart from that declaration, we can also supply other intermediate forms of cooperation and assistance. In particular, we are prepared to pay for fishing rights in the zones of those countries which have substantial catch surpluses. Our payments could be in the form of fishing vessels and gear, refrigeration plant expertise and so on. At the same time I would like to emphasize what our Minister of Agriculture said in his statement to the Plenary. That is we believe that the FAO Programme should cover not only problems connected with difficulties encountered by the developing countries in their management of living resources in the new system of fisheries economic zones, but also problems linked with rational utilization of the available potential to fishery resources. Poland is one of the latter countries as it is known. The role of FAO in this field should consist in skilful coordination of operations and rational utilization of living resources owned by countries of wide access to the sea with technical research and staff potential of all countries. The goal of this Programme should become the ensuring of fish consumption on an adequate level in all the countries where it is lower than the average world consumption assumed for the year 2000.

For these reasons we would like to stress our position also with regard to the draft resolution on the EEZ Programme submitted to the Conference.

We strongly and sincerely believe that FAO will follow this course of action to take into full consideration the interests of geographically disadvantaged countries. We hope that our proposal could be incorporated in the text of the resolution. With these remarks we are prepared to support the submitted resolution.

CHAIRMAN: Bangladesh has handed in an official statement which will be incorporated in the official record.

S. DE MARE (Sweden): Due to the new legal regime of the ocean many developing countries are now in possession of very considerable renewable resources of food which however can only be fully utilized with increased assistance from inter alia FAO, various funding institutions and bilateral zones. These new resources also imply new responsibilities for the management of available fish stocks existing in the extended economic zones. Properly managed these new resources would have very favourable long-term effects on the income, the living and nutritional standards of broad-including the poorest-segments of the population in developing countries. For this and other reasons Sweden welcomes the new programme for the development of fisheries in extended economic zones which in our view has very promising development potentials.

Although as a result of the new ocean regime important fishing stocks have become the property of one owner, the coastal state, these stocks are still migratory and will therefore only exceptionally be exploited by one single nation. When considering the increased utilization of shared stocks it is important at an early stage to have accepted ideas of the management of such stocks, and how the production should be shared. Otherwise wrong investments could be made and over-capacities created.


This increased need of cooperation should however become one of the greatest stimuli for the development of both technical and economic cooperation among developing countries. The existing regional fishery commissions have a very important role to play in this context. Some of these commissions cover very large areas and we therefore strongly support the proposed establishment of smaller management units that can focus on specific needs indentified by groups of countries as opposed to more general regional requirements. Existing sub-regional and regional fisheries development programmes also constitute excellent units for assistance on problems which affect several countries and relate to economic zones.

In Sweden we have very favourable experiences from the FAO Regional Development Programme concerning artisanal fisheries in the Bay of Bengal which is financially and technically supported by Sweden.

It is important in our view that measures taken and financed within the EEZ programme comprise the whole integrated system including legal, technical, economic and bilogical questions. Financial resources should not be split up on isolated projects where the effects of the means put in are often difficult to measure. Sweden is thus strongly in favour of an integrated approach to the elaboration and implementation of the Programme. Training, research and the development of systems whereby correct assessments concerning total available catches in different areas could be made will be of the utmost importance for the effective management of available fish stocks. Resources devoted to the assessment of stocks should in the view of my delegation principally be concentrated on such fish stocks which could be utilized within the framework of artisanal and coastal fishery. The primary need of the majority of the developing countries must be exploitation of fish resources that could be exploited without the need for costly and capital-intensive equipment.

In conclusion Sweden as already stated in the Committee on Fisheries endorses a concrete and specified FAO programme of assistance in the development and management of fisheries in the extended economic zones on both a medium-term and long-term basis and we look forward to the establishment of priorities within the programme by the FAO Secretariat.

Finally, we would also like to support the draft resolution contained in document C 79/LIM/41.

A. M. B. JAGNE (The Gambia): The Gambian delegation wishes to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Lucas for his lucid introduction of the paper Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones, C 79/21 and to say at the outset that Gambia supports the draft resolution before this Commission.

As one of the coastal states with considerable fishery resources Gambia has declared a 200-mile exclusive fishing zone. In his statement at the Plenary meeting of this Conference the Head of the Gambian delegation said that the development of the Gambian fisheries resource is in accordance with our objective to diversify the national economy and with the urgent need to improve the nutritional standards of our people. In our situation, fishery offers tremendous opportunities for increased full-time employment, for earning much-needed foreign exchange and for ensuring and enhancing national economic stability. It also offers an opportunity for rural development as the vast majority of our fishermen exploiting our marine resource operate from a rural milieu.

In virtually all the documents prepared by the Secretariat on the EEZ and the programmes for assistance in the programme of management of fisheries, the point has been made and emphasized, and in our view rightly, that an extension of national jurisdiction offers most coastal states increased opportunities to develop their fisheries. But it also involves increased responsibilities. We wish to underline the words "increased responsibilities". In the fulfilment of these responsibilities we must adopt conservation and management measures that will enable the optimum yield to be taken from these stocks, measures that will prevent over-fishing and the dissipation of the resource. The adoption of these measures should be based on a sound knowledge of the size of the stock available. In our view it is essential therefore that coastal states should cooperate amongst themselves and with FAO in the important area of stock assessment and monitoring. We believe that the programme of assistance should give priority to the assessment of the stocks lying within national jurisdiction as well as those stocks shared by two or more nations since in most areas the stocks are migratory. We would welcome assistance in this important area.

H. M. EL-HASHEM (Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of) (interpretation from Arabic): Having reviewed document C 79/21 related to the Development of Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones I find that this document treats the salient points of the new legal regime of the oceans resulting from the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and its impact on the fishing resources in the world and the benefit resulting thereof to the developing countries.


We consider that this new legal regime of the seas is very good and aims at the establishment of a new international economic order which would be more equitable to the developing countries and which would further contribute towards their development enabling them to meet their rising food needs. This regime would also contribute to the establishment of food security in the developing countries, as well as supporting and extending the sovereignty of the developing countries over their national resources. We think that this new system should be speeded up in view of the many benefits which will result from its implementation as a first important step towards reducing the gap between the developing and developed countries.

We also believe that it may be useful to consider the implementation of sectoral and specialized regional offices to concetrate on fishing resources, their maintenance and development as a main source of animal protein, together with studying the effects of environmental pollution on the stocks of marine production.

In conclusion the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recommends that the new regime of the seas should include some rules and regulations that would limit pollution of the marine environment which would be harmful, or which has a harmful effect on fishing resources.

CHAIRMAN: The EEC has handed in a written statement which will be included in the official records of the Commission.

JEE-DAE KIM (Korea): Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me the floor. My delegation would like to express its deep appreciation to the FAO Secretariat for the excellent preparation of document C 79/21 on the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones. Taking this opportunity I would like to make some comments on this agenda.

Firstly, under the gloomy world food and agricultural situation and prospects, the fisheries resources are specially important because the fisheries resources provide us with more than 20 percent high-quality protein of the total world animal protein supply. I, therefore, believe that keeping sustained optimum yield is an important task given to us all. In this connection I would like to point out that many developing coastal states find it difficult to plan successfuly fisheries development policies and fulfil responsibilities, that is, keeping the sustained optimum yield due to the lack of modern technology and capital shortage.

My delegation is of the view that international cooperation for technology transfer and capital assistance must be strengthened to achieve this objective.

Secondly, under-utilization of fisheries resources results in wasting our very valuable food resources while excessive exploitation of them reduces the stock.

In relation to this point I would like to stress that other countries interested should be given the opportunity to share the resources under reasonable conditions, when the coastal states cannot utilize the entire allowable catch.

I sincerely hope that the coastal states will take necessary measures to provide reasonable conditions for interested countries.

In light of these views, my delegation strongly supports the resolution C 79/LIM/41.

Thirdly, I would ask FAO to play a more active role in technical cooperation in the fisheries sector and efficient utilization of the world fisheries resources by establishing elaborate action programmes.

Lastly, I am pleased to inform you that my country, the Republic of Korea, has strengthened cooperation with other countries for fisheries development.

In this year we have received 33 trainees from 22 countries, and are willing to provide more training opportunities for other developing countries in the coming years.

Moreover, my country is willing and prepared to play our part in international cooperation, especially technical cooperation through FAO and international bodies for the well-being of the people of the world.


CHAIRMAN: Gabon has proposed to hand in a written statement which will be included in the official record of this Commission.

D. RICHTER (Germany, Fed. Rep. of)(interpretation from German): Thanks to the excellent and very careful preparation by the Secretariat, the discussions in the Committee on Fisheries on the new FAO programme on promotion of fisheries in the EEZ were most successful.

My government is in agreement with the ideas of the Secretariat concerning future development of fisheries and measures which need to be taken to promote fisheries.

The Committee on Fisheries stressed the need for fish stocks to be assessed with scientific exactitude and to use them in an optimal way. Processing, storage and marketing of fish and fish products need to be improved. What is important in this connexion is the maintenance of very high standards of quality. The Committee attaches a great deal of importance to bilateral cooperation between fishery nations and developing countries in the form of joint ventures.

My delegation in the Committee on Fisheries has associated itself with this judgment and gave its support to the programme. In this connexion FAO has a leading role to play. In the view of my government this programme is a continuation of the excellent work of FAO in the fishery sector, and one which is adapted to more recent conditions.

The implementation of this programme requires a great deal of effort. Multilateral and bilateral support has already been promised for this programme. The coastal countries concerned have now the possibility with the EEZ, to promote the development of their fisheries, by exploiting these resources and by cooperation with fishery nations.

The large number of and the differences in the economies involved will require an adjustment of aid measures to existing conditions. Bilateral cooperation will fulfil an important task in this respect. This aid can best be oriented to local conditions.

Technical cooperation of my country with developing countries in this particular sector has proved good. My government is going to continue this assistance in view of the importance of fisheries for food security in the Third World. It is prepared to cooperate with developing countries to a greater extent within the framework of joint ventures. A close coordination with FAO is in our view important, in particular in the elaboration of principles and strategies, in project identification and regional programme planning. The Federal Government will, if necessary, participate in the implementation of seminars, workshops and other education and training programmes.

L. COMANESCU (Roumanie):Je voudrais signaler tout d'abord que la Roumanie se situé parmi les premiers Etats qui se sont prononcés en faveur de la constitution de la zone économique dans la nouvelle convention sur le droit de la mer, tenant compte du désir des pays riverains en développement de proteger et de développer les ressources biologiques situées au-delà de la zone territoriale, et cela au benefice de leur economie nationale et de leur population. Cela correspond d'ailleurs au objectifs de l’instauration du Nouvel ordre économique international.

En consequence, nous sommes en faveur de toute mesure destinée à développer les ressources de peche dans ces zones. Il est sati sfaisant de voir que la FAO est la première à avoir pris une telle mesure en lancant le programme d'action pour le développement et la gestión des peches dans les zones économiques exclusives. En appuyant la mise en oeuvre de ce programme, done l’adoption de la resolution présentée dans le document C 79/LIM/41, je voudrais ajouter quelques commentaires.

Nous comprenons qu'il est nécessaire, en déployant de tels programmes, de teñir compte à la fois de la nécessité de satisfaire les besoins en peche des pays, particulièrement de ceux en développement, situés en dehors des zones riches en peche, en ressource halieutiques ou des zones riveraines de mers pauvres en telles ressources, comme c'est le cas du Bassin Mediterranee-Mer Noir. L'idée de lancer avec l'appui de la FAO un programme pour le développement de la péche dans ce bassin nous paraít particulièrement bienvenue. Il est en mème temps indispensable que les pays désavantagés du point de vue de la pèche aient une garantie d'accès, sur des bases équitables, aux ressources de pèche situées au-delà de la region à laquelle il s appartiennent. Il ne faut pas oublier que beaucoup de ces pays, la Roumanie par exemple, ont développé des capacites de pèche-je dirai mème de véritables flottes-et qu'ils détiennent de ce fait déjà une experience susceptible d'etre bien utilisée dans le cadre d'une cooperation mutuellement avantageuse avec les pays riverains de zones riches en ressources halieutiques.

Finalement, nous partageons entièrement l'idée exprimée ici, à savoir que l'on devraìt! prèter attention au développement de la pèche dans les zones intérieures et que la FAO pourrait et devrait y apporter une contribution accrue.


A. I. MENENDEZ (Mexico): Consideramos que el documento elaborado por la Secretaría es una buena base para nuestros trabajos.

Dada la trascendencia de los asuntos marinos para los países subdesarrollados y como México cuenta con más de 10 000 kilómetros de costas, nuestro Gobierno ha participado activa y permanentemente en la Conferencia sobre el Derecho del Mar; estamos particularmente pendientes de la intervención actual y futura de la FAO en el desarrollo y ordenación, entre otras cosas, de las pesquerías en las zonas económicas exclusivas. México ha sido uno de los primeros países en reivindicar ¡soberanamente las 200 millas náuticas como zona económica exclusiva y, además, ha declarado al Golfo de California como "mare nostrum".

A través del Plan Nacional de Desarrollo Pesquero, que se elaboro con la participación de la FAO, estamos empeñados en aprovechar integralmente nuestros recursos pesqueros y a preservarlos en beneficio de nuestro pueblo. Por ello nos esforzamos en incrementar racionalmente la tasa de extracción de alimentos marinos que son fuente de proteínas de alta calidad y contribuir a reorientar y enriquecer la dieta popular.

La pesca puede ofrecer un número importante de puestos de trabajo por lo que es necesario fomentarla. Nuestra legislación reserva la captura de ciertas especies-como el camarón-a entidades de propiedad social como son las cooperativas pesqueras. Lamentablemente tienen que afrontar la competencia desleal e ilegal de barcos trasnacionales que navegan bajo diferentes banderas y que proceden de países cercanos y lejanos al nuestro.

México ve con profunda simpatía la formación de empresas multinacionales entre gobiernos y pueblos de países en desarrollo, aunque no se descarta la posibilidad de eventual cooperación con otros países con diverso grado de desarrollo, bajo una base renovada de equitativa y justa participación.

Nuestro país asigna gran importancia a la cooperación sincera, auténtica y solidaria entre los países en desarrollo, que son capaces de intercambiar experiencias y técnicos, por lo que recomendamos a la FAO que apoye y estimule estas acciones y contrate un mayor número de técnicos de los países del Tercer Mundo.

La explotación de los recursos marinos, como muchos otros casos, habría venido siendo campo de acción y beneficio de unas pocas Potencias pesqueras, por lo que apoyamos decididamente la reivindicación de los países en desarrollo en ejercicio de su soberanía, como consagra la Carta de Derechos y Deberes Económicos de los Estados. Cuando hablamos del nuevo orden marítimo, nos referimos a uno de los más importantes pilares del establecimiento del Nuevo Orden Económico Internacional.

La pesca en aguas continentales representa características que vale la pena subrayar. Aparte de que genera ingresos para quien la practica, es una fuente alimenticia de primer orden y contribuye a mantener el equilibrio ecológico y crear nuevas fuentes de empleo. Es importante que la FAO dedique mayores recursos a la acuicultura en los países en desarrollo, sin descuidar ni las prácticas artesanales ni las prácticas artesanales que se logran con explotaciones de mediana y grande envergadura.

México considera que a pesar de existir aún mucho por hacer, la FAO ha mejorado respecto del pasado para colaborar con sus Miembros. Es decir, debemos reconocer que afronta limitaciones de diverso tipo y que debemos preocuparnos porque su apoyo sea ágil, eficiente y evidente. El caso del programa de las zonas económicas exclusivas demandará una significativa flexibilidad temática y operativa, así como una ejecutiva descentralización, que debemos garantizar.

Por último, Sr. Presidente, queremos llamar la atención sobre el hecho de que la nueva situación marina internacional responsabiliza a los Estados en ejercicio de las zonas económicas exclusivas, de la adecuada utilización de la riqueza marina. Sin embargo, algunos países, -y no son pocos por cierto-, han encontrado que algunas especies fueron excesivamente explotadas y otras están prácticamente extinguiéndose por virtud de métodos irracionales fundamentados en la sola idea de la acumulación. Pedimos que esta Conferencia tome debida nota de este inaceptable fenómeno depredatorio, y que se deslinden claramente las responsabilidades. 1/

CHAIRMAN: Before calling on the next speaker, I should like to inform delegates that Ecuador has handed in a written statement for inclusion in the official documentation of this Commission.

1/ Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.


M. MORIMOTO (Japan):I shold likemake a few brief: comments on the development and management of fisheries in the exclusive economic zones.

First of all, in regard to the development of fisheries in the developing coastal states, what is needed is for them to have a good grasp of the fisheries resources within their 200-mile zones and then to formulate reasonable programmes based on the state of the fisheries resources. Since this point is taken into account in the Secretariat's Programme, my delegation can generally accept the Programme.

My delegation highly appreciates the positive activity of FAO for the medium-long term programme in the management and development of the fishery resources to ECDC. However, it is the view of my delegation that it is not in the interest of developing coastal states to exclude foreign vessels from the 200-mile zones by imposing too heavy fees or by admitting only joint ventures. Such policies will hinder the efficient utilization of marine resources. Rather, the developing coastal states are recommended to adopt more realistic policies, such as admitting the operation of foreign vessels, naturally charging them a reasonable fee and spending the revenue on the development of their fisheries.

I understand that FAO plays an important role by carrying out various projects for the development of fisheries in developing countries. I think it is appropriate for FAO to promote the projects further by external financing.

Concerning economic development assistance, my Government has been giving assistance in the fisheries sector and for this fiscal year its contribution amounts to 6 billion yen. The FAO Secretariat is inviting member nations to give financial asistance to the field programme of the fisheries sector. My Government is now studying carefully the possibility for this assistance.

T. POULSEN (Norway): Norway has had occasion in the past, and again at this Conference, to note with satisfaction the urgency with which FAO approaches the very important task of promoting fisheries development in the economic zones of developing countries. At the meeting of the Committee on Fisheries in October we witnessed what was perhaps an exceptionally broad participation of member countries when this subject was debated.

The programme outline which was then presented to COFI concerning FAO'srole in assisting developing countries received the full support and endorsement of COFI.

It is our feeling that the present Conference will give extra and really weighty impetus to help both FAO and other international and development agencies to translate the prevailing will to assist into practical action.

Since the emergence of the new law of the sea, with the 200 nautical miles economic zones being established by the great majority of the world's coastal states, we have got a wholly new framework for the management of the world's living resources.

A preponderant share, indeed more than 90 percent of the fish resources that can presently be exploited, have come under national jurisdiction and the developing countries themselves have assumed sovereign rights over a very significant share of these resources. As such, an overall framework conducive to the development of their fisheries has been created. But this framework of extended fisheries jurisdiction, although necessary, is not sufficient to give substantive benefits to such developing countries. The programme presented by the Director-General is a potent expression of this understanding. We are fully in accord with the philosophy of the programme, that the immediate task is to develop the local capacity both for planning and policy implementation in the developing countries themselves.

The general restraint that the present lack of appropriate resources poses for such countries must be overcome. Substantital aid is therefore required. On this I feel we can all agree. But we need, furthermore, to define more closely the objectives which we seek to promote. In particular we need to tailor the projects to the particular requirements of each individual country or region. What is demanded is thus a real appreciation of the social and economic context within which we seek to promote fisheries development and to accord direct and broad participation to the local fishing community at an early stage in the planning and implementation of projects. This will be a first and immediate demand that we must place on any project. The basis will then be laid for developing an independent local capacity to ensure that in the longer term we may witness greater self-reliance and more self-sustained development.


In this connexion we are glad to see the explicit dismissal in the document before us of the idea that there might exist a general model for fisheries development. Nevertheless, there is one general objective to which the programme which we now debate must relate and that objective is to ensure that fisheries development makes a real contribution to enhancing the nutritional benefits that the local populations derive from fisheries.

Seen in relation to the objective of promoting a new international economic order, the programme that we now endorse must, to be successful, make a real contribution to creating a more equitable food procurement policy globally, In particular we must promote the right structure in the fishing industries to ensure that the vast nutritional potential of the living resources is exploited to make a real improvement in diet.

It is clear that the implementation of the programme will require cooperation not only between donor agencies and FAO and the affected countries but also at the regional level, so that countries which face similar problems and challenges do cooperate between themselves. This will require a strengthening of existing regional bodies, which in the years to come will provide an essential forum for cooperation.

The challenge we now face is an unprecedented one. It is therefore of vital importance that the progress of our work is being subjected to continuous evaluation and assessment.

Lastly, we urge Member States of FAO to accept the practical consequences of endorsing the Director-General's programme and, in particular, to make available funds to cover the financial requirements inherent in the task we are now ready to undertake.

L. HINDS (Canada): We are pleased to be co-sponsors of the draft resolution which deals with the Director-General's plan for the development and management of fisheries in exclusive economic zones. This programme is of special interest to Canada, since our practical experience in both the benefits and the problems of fisheries management and development could be shared with FAO and with developing countries. My delegation supports the role of FAO and we are pleased to see that other multilateral and bilateral agencies are invited to share in the implementation of the programme.

With respect to future actions for the implementation of the programme, my delegation agrees that as a first step developing countries must give priority to the identification of precise national policies that relate to the extension of economic zones. We agree that additional resources, both technical and financial, would be necessary for assistance to the developing countries. We have, however, indicated at the Thirteenth Session of COFI that in the short-term internal reorganization and reorientation of activities within FAO could be used to achieve the immediate objectives of the programme.

With respect to regional bodies, we support the position taken by FAO, which would facilitate TCDC and bring about better fisheries management and development of fisheries in the EEZs of developing countries.

Although Canada is operating in a period of tight budgetary constraints, we will continue to consider requests for additional assistance for fisheries projects and programmes from eligible bilateral recipients. within the context of their own development programme priorities.

Canada is in the process of concluding five important fisheries projects under the multi-bi formula with FAO. The value of Canada's contribution for these projects will be about $6 million. Although we cannot commit ourselves to future multilateral increases at this time, we would hope that other donors will continue to support the programme.

I. MOSKOVITS (Malta): The delegation of Malta wholeheartedly supports the FAO project on the development and management of fisheries in exclusive economic zones. You will be surprised, Mr. Chairman, to hear such a statement from the delegation of a country which is not directly profiting from the project, but we are pleased to see that the Director-General is giving the highest priority in FAO's Programme of Work for 1980-81 to a project which has immense economic and social importance for a large segment of the world's population and is an important step for the realization of the New International Economic Order. We had the privilege of participating in the meetings of the Committee on Fisheries, which first presented this project in its entirety, as well as the 76th Session of the Conference. We are grateful to Mr. Ruivo, the distinguished delegate of Portugal and also Chairman of the Committee on Fisheries, for mentioning the highlights of this meeting yesterday, as well as the matters to which we are giving particular importance. We have already stressed this matter at the meeting of the Committee oñ Fisheries.


We are very grateful to Dr. Lucas for the excellent presentation and preparation of the Committee on Fisheries, and for the working papers which he submitted to this Session, which were very much to the point and very useful. There was only one paragraph in the main document submitted to the Committee on Fisheries concerning the EEZ, which we found rather troubling. This paragraph referred to possible actions regarding countries, which, for geographical or other reasons, are disadvantaged and will not · take direct profit from the EEZ. There was only a very vague indication that these countries should benefit from the programme, but no firm and concrete actions were described. This referred in particular to the Mediterranean countries, which for geographical and other reasons cannot profit from the EEZ project and programme. However, there are many other possibilities through which these countries could also benefit in an indirect way from the whole FAO Programme concerning EEZ. For instance, through the organisation of training centres for the training of technical people at all levels on the legal problems resulting from the new regime of the sea, as well as on the improvement of the statistics Mediterranean countries which are not sufficiently harmonized regarding fisheries and on many other problems. We are satisfied to see FAO's efforts to undertake such actions, as has been confirmed at the Conference. We are also very pleased to see that the Council in the Report of its 76th Session noted that special technical support should be provided to the existing administrative machinery for fishery development and management in the Mediterranean. The Council was also informed that concrete preparations for such technical assistance were already being made by the Fisheries Department. We are grateful to Dr. Lucas that he has already undertaken concrete steps in this direction, but we realize also that it is not enough that only the FAO Department of Fisheries is doing something:the countries directly interested should also participate in this work.

We hope that in the very near future we will be able to have a meeting with interested countries of the Mediterranean to design details of a project or programme for the benefit of Mediterranean countries, and to establish priorities of how this programme should be carried out.

Regarding the Draft Resolution before the Commission, at this time we do not wish to make any comment, neither additions nor amendments. We would however request that in the Report of the Commission's discussion, the particular problems of the Mediterranean should be duly reflected and stressed, in order that the Department of Fisheries be encouraged to continue its efforts for the benefit of the countries of the Mediterranean.

ABU BAKAR BIN MAMMUD (Malaysia):I would like to beginmyintervention on this topic by echoing the sentiments of the Delegate of Indonesia, in wishing Happy Muharram to all fellow Muslims, no matter how delayed these wishes may be. To us in Malaysia the development and management of fisheries is a very important topic and we would like to compliment FAO on its efforts in being able to develop a comprehensive programme for the development and management of fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones. We are pleased to note that FAO has succeeded in this difficult task, the results of which we have before us in the document C 79/21, which is a good summary of the EEZ Programme. My delegation wishes to pay high tribute, particularly to the staff of Dr. Lucas, the Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department, for this brilliant effort.

As a coastal developing country, Malaysia supports the EEZ Programme. However, we hope that with its implementation, the other fisheries development programmes of FAO, especially aquaculture and inland fisheries, will not suffer from inattention and neglect as a consequence, and that any withdrawal of staff or resources from these other programmes to assist in launching the EEZ Programme will only be temporary. Malaysia's interest in aquaculture and inland fisheries is derived from her belief that these two activities have great potentials in terms of increasing food production and employment for the rural poor. Not only that but the impact is also greater and far more immediate than that of any activity envisaged under the EEZ Programme. The technology for aquaculture already exists in many countries, both developing and developed, and it is only a question of a transfer of technology which is needed in this particular case.

Malaysia is a small developing country. Our fisheries sector is just emerging from the traditional stage of economic development as most of our fish supply comes from the inshore small scale fisheries. Consequently, we would need a substantial amount of technical assistance to enable us to implement the EEZ Programme. In this context, Malaysia would welcome bilateral aid, not only from the developed, countries (the traditional donors) but also from the developing countries who possess the requisite technology and experience in the field of extended fisheries. Of course, we would also welcome assistanceand aid from FAO, especially technical assistance for which the Organization is so well equipped. What we lack in our development needs are, in particular, the technology to develop our fisheries in the EEZ, which we hope will be made readily available to us through the technical cooperation programmes either on a bilateral basis or a multilateral basis. This technology is costly, and a developing country like Malaysia can only afford it if it is made available at reduced cost as an indirect form of financial assistance.


Malaysia notes that the EEZ Programme is essentially a management programme in the long term with development components for the short term. Under the Programme, coastal developing countries will be assisted to improve the management of the fish stocks coming under their national jurisdiction as a result of the new regime of the sea and the establishment of the EEZ. A sum of $US 35-40 million is being proposed for implementing the Programme for the first 3 years. What the expenditure of this substantial sum of money will achieve is not quantified in the document C 79/21 which is before us, except that it might lead to an increase in fish landings of 20-30 million tons in a global context. This increase in the catch is expected to come from non-conventional species caught with capital :: intensive, high technological equipment, and from better management. It is not envisaged that the EEZ Programme will develop new sources of fish supply which will augment the present available supply of fish. Consequently, there may be possible over-exploitation of the fish stocks, and in this respect, Malaysia would like to see an element of conservation included in the EEZ Programme. The EEZ Programme as formulated at present contains a slight but serious deficiency. As a management programme, it does not contain any provisions or activity whose objectve is to help develop the national capacity and capability of developing coastal states to take over the management of projects initiated under the EEZ Programme. The existing capacity and capability of many developing countries is already over-extended in the management of current fisheries programmes. To ask them to assume a new responsbibility as vital and extensive as the EEZ Programme, and to implement it effectively and efficiently, is to ask them to do a humanly impossible task. Thus Malaysia would like to see an element of training not only included but greatly enhanced in the EEZ Programme.

Finally, we support the resolution on the EEZ.

CHAIRMAN: Before calling on the next speaker, I would like to announce that Cyprus has handed in a written statement to be included in the official documents of this Commisssion.

J. L. MESB EGUER SANCHEZ (Espana): Muchas gracias, señor Presidente. La delegación de Espana quiere unirse a cuantas delegaciones han felicitado al Director General de la FAO por la feliz iniciativa de su Programa de Asistencia al Desarrollo y la Ordenación de las Pesquerías en las Zonas Económicas EXclusivas. Asimismo quiere felicitar también al departamento de Pesca por el documento C 79/21 que nos ofrece las distintas oportunidades que para la alimentación mundial ha de suponer el nuevo régimen jurídico del mar que se debate todavía en laTercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Derecho del Mar.

Precisamente por la importancia que el programa va a tener en beneficio de la alimentación de toda la humanidad en los próximos anos, la delegación de Espana apoya la iniciativa de la FAO de adelantarse en la elaboración y, en su caso, aplicación del programa antes que termine sus trabajos la Tercera Conferencia sobre el Derecho del Mar, cuyo término está previsto en principio para el próximo ano 1980.

El programa ahora, a juicio de la delegación de Espana, está basado en el consenso cada vez más amplio que existe en la Conferencia de considerar costumbre internacional tanto las doscientas millas y los derechos soberanos de los estados ribereños sobre los recursos de sus zonas económicas, como la posibilidad que tienen los terceros estados de tener acceso a la pesca de los excedentes.

Sobre estos tres pilares debe fundamentarse el desarrollo del programa hasta que la Conferencia de Caracas entre en vigor, en cuyo momento histórico el programa deberá basarse en los artículos de la Convenoion.

En este orden de ideas, la delegación española estima que el desarrollo y aplicación del programa del Director General, con ser tan grande su importancia y trascendencia, no agota las funciones que el nuevo orden jurídico de loe mares exige a la FAO.

Efectivamente, en el ámbito de su competencia, es decir proveer a la alimentación mundial, la FAO deberá jugar un papel realmente importante dirigido, entre otros aspectos, a interpretar con la imparcialidad que le caracteriza el alcance jurídico de los derechos y obligaciones que la Convención de Caracas atribuya en las zonas económicas exclusivas a todos los Estados, sean o no ribereños.

Asimismo deberá promover la cooperación internacional entre Estados en desarrollo y Estados industrializados para el desarrollo de la pesoa en beneficio de la humanidad, tanto a nivel multilateral a través de las organizaciones internacionales de pesoa, como a nivel bilateral, en especial respecto a los stocks mixtos que se encuentran en las zonas económicas de dos o más Estados y entre estas zonas económicas y alta mar.


En este àmbito de la cooperación entre Estados, también la FAO debe alentar la transferencia de tecnologías pesqueras de los países industrializados a los países en desarrollo, bien en el contexto de convenios bilaterales, bienmediante la constitución de empresas conjuntas que favorezcan un desarrollo integral de la actividad pesquera, tanto extractiva como comercial, formación profesional nàuti co-pesquera, desarrollo de las técnicas de mercadec, sistemas de conservación y distribución, etc. , De esta forma el nuevo orden jurídico de los mares se irá haciendo efectivo en beneficio de los estados ribereños, sin perjudicar en exceso a los nacionales de Estados con flotas de pesca a distancia, de manera que, al mismo tiempo, se contribuya a resolver el déficit alimentario mundial y se eviten desequilibrios estructurales.

En este sentido, la delegación española apoya la Resolución presentada ayer por Portugal, si bien tiene algunas sugerencias que, sin cambiar el espíritu de la misma, tienden a acomodarla al nuevo derecho del mar. Así, en el preámbulo de la Resolución, en el último de los considerandos se habla de recordar la declaración de la Conferencia Mundial sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural. La Delegación de Espana considera que sería más oportuno recordar que la Tercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Derecho del Mar ha declarado unos derechos soberanos, o derechos de soberanía, sobre loe recursos naturales, vivos o no, de las zonas económicas.

También señor Presidente, en el punto 5 de la resolución considera que debía de incluirse la cooperación económica y técnica a los estados industrializados. Y por último, el punto 6 debería quizá colocarse, para ser consecuente con el punto 1, como punto 2 de la Resolución.

CHAIRMAN: Before calling on the next speaker, I would like to announce that Tunisia has handed in a written statement which will be included in the official documents of this Commission.

M. YOUNG (United States of America): The United States delegation viishes to express its appreciation for the initiative ofFAO in directing its assistance in the fisheries sector to the new problems and, above all, to the new opportunities arising out of the revolution of the legal regime dealing with the Economic Zones.

The comprehensive programme wisely adopts a two-fold approach, addressing both the immediate and mid-term needs for technical assistance, while laying the groundwork for LDCs to develop the institutional and research systems for long-term management of fishery resources.

We plan to follow the progress and the achievements of the new comprehensive programme very carefully in the years to come through the reports to FAO technical and governing bodies. Thus we stress at this time the importance of building into the programme a provision for careful monitoring and assessment.

We also support the proposal for a conference in 1982 on the development and management of fisheries.

In summary, the EEZ Programme provides a unique opportunity for FAO, and the Fisheries Department in particular, to be of practical assistance to developing countries, while at the same time playing a very constructive role in helping to reach the desired goal of full, sustained and controlled utilization of this important renewable resource.

J. C. SAINSBURY (Australia): The Australian delegation would also like to join many other speakers in complimenting Mr Lucas and his staff on the initiative they have shown in the development of this Programme,

We fully concur with Mr. Lucas' opening comments that the new legal regime of the seas has brought a about profound and, indeed, dramatic changes to the exploitation and management of world fisheries and in particular in the potential benefits it offers developing countries.

Australia itself only developed a declared national jurisdiction over its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone on 1 November this year. Although we are a developed country, we have a common community interest with many developing countries in respect of the development of our fishing industries, particularly in respect of the essential need for all of us to gain the necessary technical know-how to effectively develop and manage fishery resources within our respective Exclusive Economio Zones.

Australia supports the future action programme as proposed in document C 79/21.


Finally, Australia would like to respond to the request made by the delegate of Portugal when he spoke on this item late yesterday. We would like to join with other countries who have already co-sponsored or offered to co-sponsor the resolution as contained in document C 79/LIM//41.

A. RODRIGUES PIRES (Cap-Vert): Ma delegation appuie pleinement 1 intervention de la FAO pour la mise en valeur et la gestión des peches dans les zones économiques exclusives. Je tiens à féliciter la FAO, et particulièrement le Departement des Peches, pour l'excellent document présente à notre Commission. Je voudrais aussi, en tant que représentant d'un Etat cotier, m'associer a la suggestion faite par la Delegation du Portugal pour la pleine realisation des activités prévues par la FAO.

En terminant, j'aimerais attirer l'attention de la Commission sur le fait que la peche représente un secteur important pour l'economie du Cap-Vert et, dans ce sens, nous espérons recevoir une assistance amplifiée de la FAO.

SALMON PADMANAGARA (Indonesia): First of all on behalf of my delegation I wish to thank the Secretariat for having prepared the documentation which constitutes a solid platform for the discussion of this item on fisheries development which directly and indirectly affects the livelihood of millions and millions of people, particularly in the developing world. My delegation endorses the view that the new legal regime of the oceans emerging from the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea is having a profund influence on world fisheries. At this stage we are only at the very beginning. Many countries have already extended jurisdiction, commonly to 200 miles over the resources off their shores placing these fish stocks under their national control. Indonesia will be no exception in this respect, since its adherence to the Archipelagic State Principle. And its adopting Exclusive Economic Zones is a matter of time only.

There is no doubt that the new regime of the oceans will have its positive impact on the economic development of coastal and island developing countries, provided that the countries concerned are in a position to effectively utilize the opportunities created by the new legal regime, and to the largest possible extent meet the challenges, briefly the exploitation of their expanded resources in an efficient way, and without further delay. How to manage this, and how to get started is the problem.

My delegation, while endorsing the view that the extension of national jurisdiction offers a wide variety of opportunities to develop fisheries on a large scale, is aware of the fact that it involves new and heavy responsibilities. It should be recognized that a large number of coastal and island developing countries are facing many constraints and difficulties in their efforts to make the best use of their expanded living resources.

My delegation associates itself with the views expressed on the role of FAO, as set forth in page 4 of document C 79/21, and would therefore confine itself to make brief comments only. It is true that the new regime demands comprehensive fisheries programmes covering fishery research, stock assessment, data collection and analysis, conservation and management measures, which all together constitute prerequisites for the successful development of fisheries. We could simply say that first of all there is a need for sound planning and feasible programming.

However, we must start with acquiring the right knowledge of the potentials which are to be developed. As far as Indonesia is concerned, technical assistance is still needed in assessing the marine living resources, and in finding methods for their exploitation. This deserves serious consideration before embarking upon further programmes, because only after the potentials have been known, we can proceed with more clearly defined plans.

Taking into account the fact that living resources of the sea might move from one area to another, thereby crossing national borders, there would be advantages if a cooperative survey could be conducted by the countries concerned in cooperation also with FAO. Such joint survey would certainly enhance technical cooperation among developing countries in the same region and may extend to other activities related to the fishery industry. FAO's Regional bodies dealing with fisheries could also play an important role in this regard, by providing technical assistance and expertise when called upon to do so.

Coming to the matter of Links with Regional Economic Groupings, my delegation welcomes the intention of FAO to establish close liaison with financial institutions which are in a position to help finance the implementation of new programmes in the field of fisheries. The importance of it can not be over-emphasized since most of the coastal and island developing countries would need huge amounts of money for the implementation of fishery industries.


Mr. Chairman, with regard to Future Action being taken by FAO aimed at the objective of helping developing coastal states to obtain a more equitable share of world fishery resources, my delegation is in general agreement with the points set forth in the document. Nevertheless my delegation would like to suggest that FAO should, in addition to the ideas it has already in mind, also take note of the following:

- attach high priority to strengthening national research institutes responsible for conducting scientific research in the field of fisheries;

- make use, to the largest extent possible, of national experts and regional experts who are conversant with fishery problems in the areas concerned;

- promote the exchange of experience and expertise among fishery experts and research workers of countries of the region;

- provide training for officials engaged in fishery development, and also development of skills and the use of more advanced techniques among the fishermen; and prepare them for a more rewarding task in the high seas in the future.

In closing, allow me to say that all programmes should be drawn up according to the immediate need of the individual countries in their initial efforts to gradually expand their fishery industries in the context of the establishment of the new Expanded Economic Zones. 1/

R. COOPER (Liberia): Liberia is a coastal state. She has tremendous fisheries resources which are not yet fully exploited, This resource base has been immensely increased by extending our jurisdiction of sea area to 200 miles.

Presently, Liberia is at near self-sufficiency stage in fisheries production except for small quantities of canned fish products which are imported. In addition, she is a net exporter of shrimps. However, despite Liberia's fisheries resources and the fact that fisheries are the cheapest source of animal protein, she is still an animal-protein deficit country because of the need for supplementary meat and meat products, the small animal population of the country engendering the need to reply on external sources and the inadequate distribution network for fisheries. The demand for animal protein exceed 8 percent per annum.

Our marine fisheries have not been inventoried and studied. However, we are aware of the potential of fisheries to transfer Liberia from an animal-protein deficit country to a surplus one and thereby increase food consumption and the nutritional level of the country, provide more gainful employment and income to small fishermen and increase export earnings and revenues to Government. Finally, since the high cost of domestic animal feed is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry, exploitation, processing and availability of cheap fish meal could go a long way to alleviate this major constraint.

On these lines, Liberia supports FAO's proposed role in development and management of fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones and requests FAO's assistance in undertaking an inventory of our fisheries resources and in formulating fisneries policies and strategies.

Finally, we support draft resolution C 79/LIM/41 with the following modification: the second operative paragraph which begins with ''Endorses the Director-General's proposal…" should include urging donor countries to provide the $35-40 million required over the next three-year period to plan and implement FAO's Programme of Assistance in the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones.

LIN GAN (China): We have studied Document C 79/21 and have also taken part in the discussion of this agenda item at the Fisheries Commission. We feel that to meet the requirements inherent in the new ocean regime, a Programme of Assistance in the Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones has been drawn up. The Programme provides, among other things, for offering expert advice to developing coastal countries on resource surveying and assessment, stock monitoring and fishery management, training technical and administrative personnel, and mobilizing bilateral and multilateral funds for the development of fisheries, regarding all these activities as "part of efforts to implement the New International Economic Order. " We consider this a welcome initiative on the part of the FAO.

1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


It is through prolonged struggle that developing coastal countries have obtained their sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the marine living resources in their EEZs. Today the struggle continues. Therefore, in helping developing coastal countries to formulate fishery development policies and coordinating fishery development programme and resources-sharing of related states, special attention should be paid to helping developing coastal countries to develop their marine fishery in the spirit of independence and self-reliance, thereby respecting and upholding their national sovereignty and interests. In this connection, we would like to express our appreciation of the statement contained in paragraph 19 of C 79/21 that "the Organization is committed to encouraging greater technical self-reliance in the developing world by strengthening national institutions and promoting TCDC. "

Mr. Chairman, my Government attaches great importance to the production and marketing of marine fisheries. The state provides support to collective fishery enterprises through purchasing their catches and in fishery processing, storage, transportation and marketing. Thus, progress has been made in China's fisheries. In 1978, off-shore catches accounted for three-fourths of China's total aquatic output of 4. 66 million tons. But aquatic output value averages a mere 1. 4 percent of the gross agricultural output value and falls far short of the ever-growing needs of the people. There is a gap, too, between our level of fishery management and advanced world levels. At present, positive measures are being taken. We're developing fishery production mainly through self-reliance. But at the same time we are also learning from other countries' advanced fishery technology and management skills as well as strengthening and promoting technical cooperation with developing countries and other countries, so as to make joint efforts for the promotion of the "Programme of Assistance in the Developing and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones". 1/

S. HANPONGPANDH (Thailand): Among all other means of food acquisition, marine fisheries had in the past provided Thailand with a great deal of additional food both for her domestic consumption and exports. As stated earlier by our leader in his country statement in the Plenary, the new law of the sea forces Thailand to lose approximately 20-25 percent of her traditional fishing water. This accounts for a loss of approximately 600, 000 tons of marine landings every year. Without equal catches by relevant coastal states, this also implies the loss of food for the world by the same amount.

To remunerate the loss, we urge FAO to see to it that all developing countries who are adversely affected by this new ocean regime be granted special concessions to continue operating, especially where the coastal states are not yet ready to efficiently harvest their newly acquired marine resources.

Besides, our Government is also placing much emphasis on the development of coastal aquaculture and inland fisheries. We urge that FAO should also support us in so doing. 1/

M. R. LEAR (New Zealand): As New Zealand was in fact one of the first coastal states to declare and implement an EEZ, our experience may be of some interest to others attending the Conference. The creation of EEZ(s) is of course a new phenomenon and New Zealand, like everyone else, is still in the process of learning how best to administer and control the resources to the best advantage of both its own fish industry and of those foreign fishing nations who have a legitimate and established interest in its EEZ.

Up to 1963, we adopted a rigid limited entry system of licensing for New Zealand fishermen which had restrained local industry development and many resources were under-fished. The most significant measure was the requirement that licensed fishing vessels could operate from the land only at the place or places specified in their licences, usually a single port. The philosophy behind the measure was that the Licensing Authority could assess applications for licences in the light of available stocks to be found in the vicinity of the port. The majority of licence applications, at this time, were rejected on the principles of conservation.

A number of factors finally brought about the removal of the restrictive licensing in 1963:

- Larger more effective fishing vessels were appearing with greater range and sea-going ability which blurred the geographic boundaries between fisheries near to ports. This form of conservation thus became ineffective.

- The majority of trawling grounds were outside the territorial sea and foreign vessels could work unrestrictedly while the domestic fleet was confined by our fisheries law.

- Finally, there was growing opinion that restrictive licensing retarded the development of the industry.

1/. Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


Limited entry to the catching sector had restricted output and maintained prices at an artificially high level. This may have been offset if less popular fish species had been promoted. Adherence to minimum length restrictions often resulted in dumping of fish already dead.

With the introduction of open entry to the catching sector in 1963 came a drive to generate greater wealth from the fisheries. Government policy became one of controlled exploitation to promote exports, as opposed to the previous emphasis on conservation.

It can now possibly be said with the benefit of hindsight that if licensing had been continued in a less restrictive form, i. e. dropping the one-port landing requirement, it could have served a useful function of rationing fishing effort to preserve maximum economic return to the fisheries.

Not all fisheries were decontrolled in 1963. Dredge oyster fishermen are still required to obtain fishing permits. Only 23 permits are able to be in force at any one time and must be renewed anually.

In 1977 legislation was amended so that certain specified fisheries could be controlled. In a fishery declared controlled, the Government can now define the quality and quantity of the fish, the areas fished and methods used. Entry to a controlled fishery is by way of licences obtained by application to a Licensing Authority. Socio-economic effects are amongst the matters considered by the Authority.

In 1978 two of our main scallop fisheries and an eel fishery were declared controlled and in the near future the Rock Lobster, the Foveaux Strait Oyster and the Northern Scallop fisheries will come under the new control Act. Most of these fisheries have shown indications of over-exploitation resulting in a fall in the catch, although in the case of rock lobsters, concern over the fall in catch per vessel with the growing entry of vessels has been a major consideration.

New Zealand thus administers its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone as a limited entry fishery. The objectives of the Government in establishing a controlled fishery include:

(i) the management of fish stocks to enable exploitation to be undertaken having regard to the need to conserve stocks for the future.

(ii) to promote exports.

(iii) to assist in the development of an important New Zealand industry-to encourage investment-to promote investment and show Government's commitment to the industry.

(iv) to assist in the acquistion of scientifc and economic knowledge of the commercial and non-commercial species found within the zone.

(v) to continue access, in accordance with international law, by foreign vessels to the surplus.

The EEZ is administered by way of several institutional avenues to meet these objectives. The Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act of 1977 defines the zone and is the basis of administrative approach. Vessels within the zone must comply with the relevant sections of the 1980 Fisheries Act, and conditions attached to their Government approvals to fish.

There are two methods of entry into the EEZ fishery:

(i) Licensed Access-which is secured at a Government to Government level and is regarded as atemporary means of exploiting that part of the total allowable catch which at this stage cannot beutilised by New Zealand interests. In most instances fees are levied on the catch allocated toand taken up by foreign licensed vessels. To date licensed vessels from Japan, USSR, Korea andthe United States fish in the zone.

(ii) Access through Cooperative Fishing Ventures between New Zealand and Foreign Partners – Government consideration of proposals for cooperative fishing ventures includes such factors as:

- the extent of New Zealand involvement

- the expertise of the foreign partner

- the share of fishing and marketing risk undertaken by the venture

- marketing, fishing and processing plans

- commercial viability of the operation.

New Zealand catching capacity is being given a big boost by the development of joint-venture companies. This has already resulted in a large increase in processing throughput and in export of fish products. As joint-venture companies gear up their processing plans, an increasing proportion of fish caught by joint venture vessels will be processed in New Zealand.


At the same time, the catching capacity of the inshore fleet has been increasing. Most species popular in New Zealand are now fully exploited, and the New Zealand fleet is being encouraged to fish for less-preferred and less-heavily exploited species through a price support scheme for a few selected species.

Processors are being encouraged to improve the quality of their products. With many prime species now being fully exploited, the only way to increase profits from these species is to increase value by improving quality. The development of joint ventures is bringing into the New Zealand fishing industry some new experience and expertise in handling, processing and marketing which can only be beneficial to the industry as a whole.

New Zealand has the sole responsibility of setting the level of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC). The EEZ is divided into eight management areas, for each of which a TAC is set separately for demersal fish.

For each area the catch expected to be taken during the year by local and joint-venture fishing vessels is estimated, and this estimate is subtracted from the TAC. Foreign fishing vessels are licensed to fish in areas where a surplus of fish is available. Quotas are allocated to foreign vessels so that the TAC in any area will not be exceeded. When quotas are reached by a national fleet, either for the total quantity of fish or for any individual species, vessels of that nation's fleet are instructed to leave the areas.

For fisheries in which the availability of the resource varies considerably from year to year, such as squid and skipjack tuna, a rather different approach has been taken. No quota is put on the catch, but the fisheries are controlled by limiting the number of boats allowed to enter the fishery. In this way the actual catch each year will be roughly proportional to the availability of the good year classes and can be advantageously exploited, while in poor years the stock will not be severely reduced because of excess effort being applied in order to reach a quota, but will only be reduced in proportion to the limited fishing effort applied by the set number of boats.

The potential for export expansion in the fisheries sector is considerable. New Zealand hopes to lift export performance well above the existing level of $63 million in 1978 with multiplier effects on the economy and I am confident that time will show it to be a successful example of a limited entry fishery. In light of our own experience, Mr. Chairman, New Zealand also welcomes the FAO programme of assistance for the development and management of fisheries in exclusive economic zones of coastal areas of developing countries. As we understand it, the programme aims to meet immediate needs through a medium-term plan of aotion, and to undertake basic studies on a long-term basis to formulate principles and methods for management of fisheries in such zones.

The medium-term action plan appears to be well designed to assess the situation in countries and to provide assistance where required. One area which could perhaps be further emphasised is the spreading of information between countries rather than from FAO to individual countries and vice versa. The management of fishery zones is now a worldwide administrative phenomenon, and the solution of problems in one part of the world could provide the key to solving similar problems in other parts. In particular, the development of joint ventures has greatly increased in recent years, bringing with them their attendant problems, and marketing is now on a world-wide basis. Issues like these deserve study and dissemination of information on an international basis.

Fisheries administrators also need frequent opportunities to confer with their fellows in other countries so that topics and problems of mutual interest can be discussed and resolved. In connection with this, the Technical Conference on the Management and Development of Fisheries proposed for 1982 will be welcome. Similar, more frequent, conferences at a regional level would be of advantage.

The long-term programme is aimed at improving identification and estimation of abundanoe of stocks and at formulating and administering management regimes. New Zealand has problems in both of these areas, arising from our insufficient research vessels, and resulting from the rapid changes in the fisheries scene in New Zealand in the last 3 years. New Zealand's administrative problems are mainly due to complications in managing multispecies fisheries and in controlling fishing effort applied to these fisheries by a number of fishing methods and by vessels of greatly differing sizes and catching capacities.

We would therefore suggest that FAO could concentrate its long-term programme on developing better methods of stook assessment and in exploring ways of resolving problems in multispecies and multimethod fisheries. 1/

1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


A. R. BIRIBONWOHA (Uganda): Uganda is a non-coastal state and it is not a potential direct beneficiary from the new regime of the ocean. We have, however, requested the floor because of the importance we attach to fisheries development in an effort to increase food production. , and upgrade the level of nutrition. We also wish to express our gratitude to the Secretariat for producing document C 79/21 on the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zones. We have found the paper lucid, exhaustive and very informative.

The paper emphasizes the increased responsibilities to coastal states to ensure maximum development and adopt such rational management measures which will enable them to utilize the marine living resources within their jurisdiction not only for their overall benefit but also for the benefit of mankind.

This delegation recognizes the fact that coastal developing countries do not have the resources to take full advantage of the new situation. We concur with the proposal that FAO is in the best position and indeed should continue to marshall and coordinate the required multilateral and bilateral assistance in investment and technical cooperation to these countries in policy formulation, the development and management of fisheries in their exclusive economic zones. We feel that the natural management area concept is a good practical approach.

The Uganda delegation finds the projected level of initial funding for the proposed programme a modest figure considering the magnitude of the task involved.

Given the above considerations, the Uganda delegation strongly supports the Director-General's proposed programme of assistance to coastal developing states to develop and manage the fisheries in their exclusive economic zones.

Mr. Chairman, Uganda fully endorses the tabled draft resolution on the subject under discussion 1/.

R. IBARGUREN (Argentina): El Gobierno de la Nación Argentina presta su total apoyo a las recomendaciones del documento C 79/21 y al proyecto de Resolución C 79/LIM/41, por cuanto tienden a consolidar en la práctica los derechos exclusivos de los estados ribereños sobre las zonas económicas exclusivas, que es uno de los principales objetivos que persigue nuestro país en la III Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el derecho del mar.

En efecto, el informe resguarda el ejercicio de los derechos exclusivos de los estados ribereños, en la administración de sus recursos vivos en las zonas económicas exclusivas y tiende a reforzar la provision de asistencia, asesoramiento, y finaneiamiento sin enervar las facultades exclusivas de los estados.

Cabe por ello elogiar las propuestas que conllevan una mayor asistencia a los países en desarrollo para la promoción de sus pesquerías, ya sea en materia de administración, conservación, investigación, exploración, o aprovechamiento de sus recursos marinos 2/.

T. J. SHO-SAWYERR (Sierra Leone): My delegation is aware of the challenges and problems relevant to managing and developing the fish resources in the extended territorial waters. We therefore endorse the Director-General's Comprehensive Programme of Assistance in the development and management of Fisheries in the Economic Zone.

Fisheries in my country is receiving more attention through the Ministry of Natural Resources created from the original Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources with responsibility for fisheries and livestock.

We have adopted and are implementing policies in fisheries which are in line with our national development policies. Training in all aspects of fisheries has been accorded high priority in order to meet our immediate manpower requirements and for implementation of our development plans.

1/. Statement to be inserted in the verbatin records on request.

2/ Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.


Paras 15-18 of C 79/21 have highlighted some prerequisites for development of fisheries in the EEZ. We are grateful that through the assistance of FAO, a revision of our fisheries legislation has been started which will take into account the new regime; collection of statistical data has improved and some knowledge of the fisheries potential is available. Applied research is being pursued with collaboration of our University in spite of serious obstacles. These activities though peripheral in scope at the present time indicate our preparedness to take on the challenges of the new regime.

We have now and again emphasized the importance of small-scale fisheries and the need for more attention to be devoted to this sector. The FAO Comprehensive EEZ Programme has not catered for them even though the activities in the EEZ would affect them directly. It is hoped that the Programme would be sufficiently flexible so as to include proposals under the Community Fishery Centre Group concept which we believe offers considerable scope for development of socio-economic aspects of small-scale fisheries.

We support the move for a more active and systematic approach by FAO to advising governments, on matters related to marine resources in the EEZ, and also the strengthening of the Regional bodies to make them more responsive to the needs of member states, and to exercise a coordinating function in regional and sub-regional cooperation by coastal states, on matters vital to their common interest.

Mr. Chairman, the size of the investment and the level of technical expertise needed for the accomplishment of the comprehensive fisheries programme are such that the active cooperation of the developed countries would be essential.

The gesture by the Government of Norway to allocate substantial amounts for support of the FAO programme is most welcome. It is hoped that other donors, bilateral as well as multilateral, would react positively to FAO requests.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, my delegation gives its unreserved support to the Draft Resolution C 79/LIM/41. 1/

S. M. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh): My delegation thanks Dr. Lucas for his excellent presentation of item 9 of the agenda. We have also read with interest the FAO Document C 79/21, which in our opinion is an excellent document and congratulate the Secretariat for its preparation.

My Government welcomed the new legal regime of the ocean which emerged from UNCLOS III since access to 200-mile zone would enable us to substantially improve our fisheries industry which otherwise has great potentialities. This will prevent others from profiting from resources which naturally belong to us. However access to extended zones of fisheries means little, if efforts are not made to develop it. In this respect we express our deepest gratitude to the Director-General for his offer to help developing coastal States like ours who have serious resource constraints to meet this challenge. We therefore look forward to the early implementation of the FAO Programme of Assistance in Development and Management of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones which was presented at the 13th Session of the COFI. Both the aims of this programme, that is, to meet immediate identified needs, and to analyze how fisheries in economic zones can be developed and managed in the long term are applicable and helpful to countries like ours.

Implementation of the FAO Programme of Assistance will call for adequate funding. We therefore urge the developed countries to contribute to the programme which will require 35 to 40 million dollars during the next three years. We are thankful to the Government of Norway for its contribution and hope others would join in soon. The urgent need for funds was expressed and recognized by the Committee-of-the Whole of the UN General Assembly in March, 1979.

We fully support the importance of the role of regional fisheries bodies, particularly those established within the framework of FAO, and we agree that these should be strengthened to promote agreements on how stocks should be exploited and also to prevent poaching on the waters of others.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has said that the UNCLOS III should be viewed as one of the activities aimed at establishing a New International Economic Order and seeking to create a more equitable and better functioning global economic system. Such optimism will turn into reality only when the developing countries are allowed greater share in world trade. Our views on commodity trade have already been expressed earlier on in this very Commission.

Finally, Bangladesh, as one of the co-sponsors of the Draft Resolution on the Development and Management of Fisheries in the EEZ, hopes for its endorsement by the Conference. 1/

1/ Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


Β. SUSSIELCH (Communauté économique européenne):Lecument C 79/21 correspond largement au Document COFl/79/4 présentéa la 13e session du Comité des Pêches, qui s'est tenue à Rome du 8 au 12 octobre dernier à laquelle la CEE a participé.

Le schéma général pour le "programme global d'assistance au développement et à la gestion des pêches dans les zones économiques"avait été exposé par le Directeur Général Adjoint, M. Lucas, FAO, en février 1979 lors de sa visite auprès de la Communauté.

Ce programme, élaboré par la FAO, semble constituer une bonne approche des questions d'assistance, dont les p. v. d. ont besoin pour une bonne utilisation et gestion des ressources de leurs ZEE, tant dans leur propre intérêt que dans l'intérêt général.

L'action communautaire dans ce domaine se situe essentiellement sur deux plans: 1. celui de la politique communautaire de pêche et des accords de pêche.

1. elui de la politique d'aid. e au développement et notamment de la coopération financière et technique qui est du ressort de ma division en ce qui concerne la pêche.

Quant à la question de quelle manière la CEE est disposée â aider les p. v. d. dans la mise en valeur et la gestion des pêches dans leur ZEE, j'attire l'attention sur la coopération financière et technique communautaire déjà existante surtout dans le cadre des Conventions CEE/ACP.

Dans le cadre du 4e FED (Convention Lomé i), une bonne trentaine de demandes d'aide dans le domaine du développement des pêches ont été adressées a la CEE dont pltisde la moitié seront financées dans le cadre du FED.

Vu que l'aide communautaire est essentiellement donnée sous forme de subvention (2. 928 millions d'UCE) et pour une moindre partie sous forme de prêt à conditions extrêmement favorables (durée 40 ans, 10 ans de grâce, 1% d'intérêt-504 millions d'UCE), l'aide à des secteurs non directement profitables commercialement, constitue en général l'emploi le plus rationnel, pour les pays des contributions du FED.

Dans ce contexte il faut citer notamment l'aide au développement des pêches artieanales ainsi que des infrastructures ou des équipements de base qui permettent ensuite un essor de la pêche hauturière et des activités de transformation de poisson.

Certains projets dans ce domaine peuvent profiter d'une participation communautaire au titre de capitaux à risque (280 millions d'UCE) ainsi que des prêts de la Banque Européenne (685 millions d'UCE).

Enfin, il peut être noté qu'en ce qui concerne les p. v. d. non ACP, la Communauté peut également les assister-mais dans une mesure plus limitée-dans le développement de leur pêche.

En effet, dans le cadre des ressources budgétaires libérées annuellement (en 1979 110 millions d'UCE sont prévues) pour des projets de développement en milieu rural notamment dans les p. v. d. les plus nécessiteux, une dizaine d'interventions ont déjà été financées au cours des trois dernières années dans le domaine de la pêche ou de l'aquaculture. 1/

E. OSSINGA (Gabon) : La délégation gabonaise a déjà eu l'occasion d'intervenir sur la pêche de façon détaillée lors de la discussion du programme de budget à la Commission II. Pour l'heure, nous voudrions seulement faire quelques observations. Tout d'abord, il nous revient de féliciter le Secrétariat pour le document C 79/21 que nous approuvons dans son ensemble. Nous voulons relever tout l'intérêt que no-tre délégation porte:

- pour l'aide de la FAO à l'établissement et à la consolidation de structures de base nationales destinées à soutenir les programmes de développement des pêches, notamment les infrastructures de pêche au niveau national;

- pour l'approche régionale qui doit permettre une concentration plus importante et plus efficace de moyens, notamment dans l'étude et l'évaluation des ressources halieutiques. A cet endroit, nous nous permettons de relever l'absence ou l'insuffisance des structures appropriées dans la région de la Cète ouest-africaine pour laquelle la délégation gabonaise demande un effort particulier de la FAO.

1/ Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès-verbal.


Nous voulons également souligner l'intérêt des statistiques halieutiques mais également faire remarquer les difficultés pratiques constatées par les pays en développement pour réaliser ces statistiques par manque de base logistique, d’équipement de toute sorte.

Cette situation mérite un examen attentif de la part de la FAO et de son système ASPIS si l'on veut améliorer les statistiques de la peche au niveau mondial.

Parmi les actions particulières envisagées pour la promotion mondiale des pêches, la délégation gabonaise relève la part prépondérante que doit revêtir le système de formation non seulement en matière de sciences halieutiques mais d'océanographie en général. A cet effet, ma délégation voudrait faire ressortir le cadre que représente l'Ecole nationale des Eaux et forêts du Cap ESTERIAS, A Libreville, comme pouvant contribuer à une action concrète de promotion des études océanographiques dans le cadre de la Sous-région de l'Afrique centrale. Cette école est prête â accueillir l'appui et l'aide de la FAO dans ce domaine.

La délégation gabonaise voudrait relever également dans les actions concrètes de la FAO pour le programme à venir la place intéressante de l'aquaculture qui mérite beaucoup d'attention et d'intérêt.

Enfin, ma délégation appuie sans réserve le projet de résolution C 79/LIM/41 présenté par le Portugal. 1/

A. BARRERA VALVERDE (Ecuador): El gobierno del Ecuador aprecia el espíritu constructivo y eficaz; del documento C 79/21 y presta su apoyo al proyecto de resolución C 79/LIM/21, por cuanto en ellos tiende a consolidar el ejercicio de los derechos soberanos y exclusivos de los Estados ribereños sobre las zonas marítimas sometidas a su. propia legislación.

Por ello, al elogiar las propuestas en curso, tendientes a buscar y proporcionar mayor asistencia a los países en desarrollo para la promoción del uso de los recursos biológicos del mar, comparte y suscribe el ánimo de estimular la presencia soberana de esos países ribereños, en la administración, cooperación internacional y en los beneficios mediatos e inmediatos del finaneiamiento externo. 2/

G. CAMEIARIS (Cyprus) : Document C 79/21 has set the pace of our discussions on the Development and Managment of Fisheries in Exclusive Economic Zones. The document is well prepared and well presented and the Secretariat should be congratulated for this.

I will be brief, Mr. Chairman, since my delegation is basically in agreement with the rationale and future action, on behalf of FAO, as proposed by the Director-General. Por this reason I will comment only on two points:

First, the evolution of exclusive economic zones opens new horizons for most coastal developing states. These states, in order to benefit and in order to use these new resources wisely and efficiently, coupled with adequate conservation policies, will need administrative, technical (including training) and financial support and assistance. This is clearly brought out in the document C 79/21. Thus my delegation hopes that this assistance either through FAO or through bilateral or multilateral arrangements would he forthcoming since, as it is pointed, out in the document (paragraph 37) "Rarely does the chance occur to secure immediate and sustainable gains both in terms of food and income for some of the poorer countries of the world. " In other words, we have before us a once in a lifetime opportunity for quick, sustainable and adequate returns to any investments, due to the low gestation period required for most fishery projects to start paying dividends.

My second point, Ilr. Chairman, concerns the fishery investments themselves. In my delegation's views, it is important, indeed vital, that these should be extended to research, processing, marketing and training, and should not be confined to financing of fishing fleet infrastructure alone and equipment. Indeed, in our view, programmes in training, research, marketing and processing are complementary and as such should be pursued together with programmes in marine life conservation and management. Thus yields can be maximised and harvested at sustainable levels to the benefit of developing coastal countries and their people. 3/

1/ Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès-verbal.

2/ Texto incluido en las actas a petición expresa.

3/. Statement inserted in the verbatim records on request.


M. HAMZA MORSEN (Tunisie) La Tunisie avec sa large ouverture sur la Méditerranée et ses 1, 200 kilomètres de côtes accordeune importance capitale au secteur de la pêche.

Vu sa démographie croissante et les besoins de plus en plus pressants de sa population en protéines, besoins qui sont liés au développement du pays, la Tunisie veut profiter pleinement de ses ressources halieutiques.

A cet effet, la Tunisie vient de réorganiser des structures de gestion de la pêche en créant un commissariat général à la pêche qui prend en main toutes les activitéo de la pêche dans le pays et ce, pour une gestion plus efficace du secteur et la mise au point de l'adoption d'une politique a lung terme dans ce domaine.

Aussi, la Tunisie accueille avec satisfaction tout programme d'aide et toute initiative visant à la bonne gestion des pêcheries dans les mers. A cette occasion, je voudrais féliciter la FAO pour la préparation du document C 79/21· Ce document est complet. Mais si vous permettez, j'aimerais faire les observations suivantes.

Pour certains pays, les ressources halieutiques sont capitales et surtout nécessaires pour l'avenir de l'alimentation de la population.

Par ailleurs, il s'agit là de ressources biologiques fragiles. A cet effet, l'aide de la FAO devrait se traduire dans une première phase par l'élaboration d'un programme de recherche bien précis permettant à certains Etats en développement de bien connaître leurs ressources halieutiques dans leurs zones et d'avoir en leur possession tous les éléments nécessaires pour une bonne planification de leurs projets d'exploitation.

Ce qui doit être recherché en premier lieu à travers cette aide, c'est une bonne gestion des ressources et une exploitation rationnelle des stocks, adaptées dans chaque pays aux conditions environnantes; écologiques et socio-économiques.

N'est-ce pas là la meilleure garantie pour que ces ressources soient protégées et constituent une source d'alimentation et de protéines sûre et durable?

En effet, l'on parle souvent de captures et d'augmentation de la production sans tenir pleinement compte des potentiels et des facteurs écologiques: c'est le cas dans certains pays en développement qui ne pensent qu'à satisfaire leurs besoins immédiats en aliments sans se soucier de ce qui va se passer demain, ce qui est légitime.

De plus, pour résoudre ce problème, il faudrait apporter certains changements aux modes d'exploitation et aux structures de gestion et les adapter aux nouvelles orientations données au développement des pêcheries dans les mers et aux nouvelles exigences de l'humanité.

C'est sur cet aspect que je viens de mentionner que la FAO peut jouer un role prépondérant et contribuer au maintien de l'environnement sain et riche ou toute l'humanité peut vivre en paix et en sécurité. 1/

The meeting rose at 12. 45 hours
La séance est levée à 12 h 45
Se levanta la sesión a las 12. 45 horas

1/. Texte reçu avec demande d'insertion au procès-verbal.



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