FAO intervention at Resumed Review Conference of the UNFSA, Agenda Item 10a - Review of implementations relating to conservation & management of stocks & review of implementation of recommendations relating to mechanisms for int. cooperation & non-members

FAO intervention under agenda item 10 (a)

'Review of the implementations relating to the conservation and management of stocks and review of the implementation of the recommendations relating to mechanisms for international cooperation and non-members'

Chairperson, distinguished delegates, colleagues, 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been working and on behalf of Members to implement the recommendations of the 2016 resumed Review Conference of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA). We welcome the opportunity to share key pieces of work undertaken toward implementation of the recommendations relating to the conservation and management of stocks.

Yesterday we received some important signals in terms of the priorities that Members highlight in the Context of the UNFSA. FAO made two interventions that were focused on the PSMA and related progress, here I would like to briefly highlight other areas of work, raised by Members yesterday, that FAO stands ready to support on:

On stock status, we heard yesterday the many challenges that Members face in supporting sustainability of high seas and straddling stocks. One of the challenges is capacity and access to appropriate and complete information on stocks. We trust that our work on updating the current methodology to assess the global status of stocks will help ameliorate some of these issues. We are also reconsidering our process for providing regular update on the status of stocks under the UNFSA. We look forward to continued work with members on this.

On the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), we continue developing tools. Two of our projects in particular can and are providing assistance here. The GEF Funded Common Oceans Program, and the EAF Nansen program supported by the government of Norway.

On Deep Sea fisheries, we are pleased to share that there has been progress in furthering responsible fisheries management for example there is a significant increase in the designated areas for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs). Also we have work underway to assess the implementation of the Deep Sea Fisheries guidelines and related follow-up measures.

On relationships between agreements related to UNFSA, FAO has worked tirelessly to support Members as they worked to reach many of the agreements mentioned yesterday (WTO, Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, BBNJ) and will continue to do this, including the important analysis of how these agreements relate to interact with each other.

Coordination between RFMOs, including other relevant international and regional organizations. I note that the need for strengthening and enhancing cooperation among RFMOs and RFABs was recommended by the thirty-fourth session of COFI in 2021. FAO has convened in 2022 two Regional Consultations on the development of coordination frameworks among RFBs[1]. The objective of these first consultations was to identify focus areas and key issues for coordination and cooperation to support sustainable fisheries in the respective region[2]. And the work of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariat’s Network (RSN) of course continues. You will hear some of these activities later today at a side event. 

On the challenge that climate change poses to the conservation and management of stocks, FAO is working at both the operational and policy level supporting member countries and partners to effectively adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture. FAO has also been actively working to ensure that aquatic food systems are addressed under climate negotiations and discussions, including by contributing to the ocean dialogues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  We are happy to report that fisheries and food security is one of the two focuses chosen this year for the upcoming Ocean dialogue.

On Area Based Management, FAO is supporting the implementation of related measures, with a particular focus on “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs). Following a request form COFI, FAO published practical guidance for identifying, evaluating, and reporting OECMs in the marine fisheries sector.

On small scale fisheries, FAO continues to stand ready to support Members on the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Small Scale Fisheries with the recently concluded International Year for Small Scale Fisheries having provided continued important momentum on this and paved the way for renewed partnerships.

[1] Regional fisheries management  organizations (RFMOs) and regional fisheries advisory bodies (RFABs) are collectively referred to as regional fishery bodies (RFBs)

[2]   https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc5979en