At its Fourteenth Session (November 1967), the FAO Conference authorized the Director-General to call a Conference of Plenipotentiaries to adopt a convention for the purpose of establishing a commission for the conservation of living resources in the South-East Atlantic. The Conference of Plenipotentiaries (Rome, 14-23 October 1969) prepared and opened for signature the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the South-East Atlantic setting up a Commission operating independently of FAO.

In accordance with paragraph 1, Article XVIII, the Convention entered into force on 24 October 1971. The Convention was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations on 16 November 1971 under No. 11408.

Parties to the Convention

The following are the participants that deposited their instruments on the corresponding date indicated:

Participant	Signature	Ratification	Acceptance	Approval	Adherence
Angola					4 Oct 1976
Belgium1	23 Jul 1970	31 Oct 1973
Bulgaria					24 Apr 1972
Cuba	23 Oct 1969	15 Jan 1975
Germany2	23 Oct 1969	17 Nov 1976
Iraq					4 Jun 1981
France					4 Oct 1972
Israel					5 Jan 1976
Italy	23 Oct 1969	22 Dec 1975
Japan3	9 Feb 1970		22 Jun 1970
Korea, Republic of:					19 Jan 1981
Poland					2 Mar 1972
Portugal	23 Oct 1969	22 Jan 1971
Romania					18 Aug 1977
Russian Federation	23 Dec 1970			24 Sep 1971
South Africa	23 Oct 1969	2 Oct 1970
Spain	27 Apr 1970	6 Dec 1971

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Germany, Federal Republic of

(Declaration)

The Federal Republic of Germany declared that the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic "... will also apply to Berlin (West), with effect from the date of entry into force for the Federal Republic of Germany."

Germany, Democratic Republic of

(Declaration notified to the Organization on 27 July 1977):

"The Democratic Republic of Germany takes note of the statement by the Federal Republic of Germany on application to Berlin (West) of the Convention concerning the Conservation of Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic of 23 October 1969 and holds that application of the provisions of this Convention to Berlin (West) is possible only insofar as this is done in conformity with the Quadripartite Agreement of 3 September 1971, whereby Berlin (West) is not a part of the Federal Republic of Germany and may not be governed by it."

Italy

(Declaration made upon ratification):

The Government of Italy declared that its ratification of the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic "...in no way implies recognition on the part of Italy of the legitimacy of the South African administration in Namibia."

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

(Declaration made upon signature):

"Signing the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources in the Southeast Atlantic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics considers it necessary to declare that the statements contained in Article XVII of the Convention according to which a number of States are deprived of the possibility of becoming participants in he Convention are of discriminative nature. The USSR believes that in conformity with the principle of sovereign equality of States the Convention has to be open to participation of all the States concerned without any discrimination or limitation."

(Declaration notified to the Organization on 3 June 1977):

"As regards the declaration of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany of 17 November 1976 regarding the application for West Berlin of the effects of the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic of 23 October 1969, the Soviet Government declares that it has no objections to this Convention applying to West Berlin insofar as this is compatible with the four-party treaty of 3 September 1971 in conformity with which West Berlin does not form part of the FRG and is not administered by the FRG."

Pursuant to Article XIX of the Convention, the International Commission for the Southeast Atlantic Fisheries approved, on 12 December 1985, at its Eighth Regular Session held in Tarragona, Spain, amendments to Articles VIII, XVII, XIX and XXI of the Convention.

In accordance with paragraph 1, Article XIX of the Convention, the amendments enter into force on the ninetieth day after their acceptance by three-fourths of the Contracting Parties.

The following participants deposited their instruments of acceptance of the aforesaid amendments on the corresponding date indicated:

Parties	Acceptation
France	8 Aug 1986
Germany4	12 Nov 1987
Italy	25 Nov 1988
Japan5	25 Jun 1987
Portugal	19 Jul 1989
South Africa	7 Oct 1987
Spain	26 Mar 1987

Pursuant to Article XIX of the Convention, the International Commission for the Southeast Atlantic Fisheries approved, on 12 December 1985, at its Eighth Regular Session held in Tarragona, Spain, an amendment to paragraph 1, Article XIII of the Convention proposed by the Government of the Republic of South Africa. The amendment will enter into force in accordance with paragraph 1, Article XIX of the Convention on the conditions referred to above.

The following participants deposited their instruments of acceptance of the aforesaid amendment on the corresponding date indicated:

Parties	Acceptation
Germany6	12 Aug 1988
Japan7	25 Jun 1987
South Africa	7 Oct 1987
Spain	7 Jun 1988

On 19 July 1990, a Conference of Plenipotentiaries met in Madrid and adopted a Protocol of Termination of the Convention on the Conservation of the Living Resources of the Southeast Atlantic.

In accordance with Article I of the Protocol, the Convention shall terminate when all Contracting Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Protocol of Termination with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

At present, the following Contracting Parties have deposited an instrument of acceptance of the Protocol of Termination:

Parties	Acceptation
Angola	23 Oct 1990
Cuba	31 Dec 1990
Spain	4 Feb 2002