FAO at Resumed Review Conference of the Fish Stocks Agreement - Introduction for Agenda item 9: Consideration of the report on the status of the Assistance Fund

FAO introduction for Agenda item 9: Consideration of the report on the status of the Assistance Fund

As prepared for delivery

Chairperson, distinguished delegates, colleagues,

It is my pleasure to address you all today on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Resumed Review Conference of the Fish Stocks Agreement offers an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made as well as remaining challenges to achieving sustainability in international fisheries management and ensuring the health and well-being of our oceans.

As requested by the President I would like to take the opportunity to provide a brief overview of one of the two background documents prepared by FAO in support of for the review conference: An overview of the activities of FAO in support of implementation of the Agreement. This will help provide some context and update on progress.

First a bit of the history on this. In its resolution 58/14, UN General Assembly decided to establish the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement to assist developing States parties in the implementation of the Agreement. The Assistance Fund was established in April 2005, and is jointly administered by FAO in collaboration with UNDOALOS.

Since the Resumed Review Conference in 2016, contributions amounting to $13,139 have been received from the Government of New Zealand to the general voluntary contribution. As at 31 December 2022, the Governments of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Lebanon, New Zealand, Norway and the United States of America had made general voluntary contributions to the Fund totaling $1,680,594

Since 2011, the Assistance Fund has been used exclusively for travel-related expenses. Overall the Assistance Fund had provided logistical support to 141 representatives from 30 developing States Parties.  Owing to the near depletion of the Assistance Fund at the end of 2016, its use had to be temporarily suspended, and no applications have since been accepted. As at 31 December 2022, the balance of the Assistance Fund from general voluntary contribution was $24,132, including accrued interest.

To broaden ways of contribution, the terms of reference for the Assistance Fund was revised in the Fourteenth Round of Informal Consultations of States Parties to the Agreement in 2019. The revision allows for contributions through donor agreements for specific activities that meet any of the purposes of the Assistance Fund set forth in the revised terms of reference.

Following the revision, the EU and FAO in 2021 entered into a donor agreement for a three-year project valued at $1,127,599 titled “Project of Assistance to Strengthen Participation in and Implementation of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement” with the objective to strengthening participation in the Agreement and the effective implementation of its provisions. It is the first specific project under the revised terms of reference for the Assistance Fund. The first instalment of $451,040 was made by EU in 2022 and the project is jointly implemented by FAO and DOALOS.

Under the UNFSA project, awareness raising materials elaborating the benefits of participation in and the importance of effective implementation of the UNFSA are being developed and to be disseminated to a different audience groups through targeted outreach and information webpage. An implementation guide of the UNFSA is being developed to elaborate requirements of provisions, incorporate recommendations from Review Conference, and take into account relevant FAO and RFMO instruments, for improved understanding of the Agreement and its effective implementation. Provision of in-country technical assistance to developing States Parties on the implementation of the UNFSA is also on the planning.

FAO reiterates the special requirements of developing States and importance of provision of assistance to developing States for their effective implementation of the Agreement, as recognized in Part VII of the Agreement and recommendations from Review Conferences. FAO wishes to make calls to States, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons for contributions to the Assistance Fund through either general voluntary contribution or donor agreements for specific activities that meet the purpose of the Fund.