United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51 - 35 on Large-Scale Pelagic Drift-Net Fishing, Unauthorized Fishing in Zones of National Jurisdiction, and Fisheries By-Catch and Discards, New York, 1996

Done at New York 9 December 1996

Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the United Nations

Distr.

GENERAL

A/RES/51/35

17 January 1997

Fifty-first session

Agenda item 24 (b)

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/51/L.28 and Add.1)]

51/35. Agreement for the Implementation of the

Provisions of the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982

relating to the Conservation and Management

of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly

Migratory Fish Stocks

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 47/192 of 22 December 1992, concerning the

United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish

Stocks, and 50/24 of 5 December 1995, concerning the Agreement for the

Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law

of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of

Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,1

Recalling also resolutions I and II adopted by the Conference,2

Noting the opening for signature of the Agreement on 4 December 1995,

Recognizing the importance of the Agreement for the conservation and

management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the

need for the regular consideration and review of developments relating

thereto,

Recognizing also the importance of artisanal and subsistence fishers,

1 A/CONF.164/37; see also A/50/550, annex I.

2 A/CONF.164/38, annex; see also A/50/550, annex II.

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,3

1. Recognizes the significance of the Agreement for the

Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law

of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of

Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks1 as an important

contribution to ensuring the conservation and management of straddling fish

stocks and highly migratory fish stocks;

2. Emphasizes the importance of the early entry into force and

effective implementation of the Agreement;

3. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article 1,

paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement that have not done so to ratify or accede to

it and to consider applying it provisionally;

4. Takes note with concern that many commercially important

straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks have been subject to

heavy and little-regulated fishing efforts and that some stocks continue to be

overfished;

5. Welcomes the fact that a growing number of States and other

entities, as well as regional and subregional fishery management organizations

and arrangements, have adopted legislation, established regulations or taken

other measures to implement the provisions in the Agreement, and urges them to

enforce those measures fully;

6. Calls upon States and other entities and regional and subregional

fishery management organizations and arrangements that have not done so to

consider taking measures to implement the provisions of the Agreement;

7. Urges States, relevant specialized agencies, international

organizations, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations

that have not yet done so to provide information to the Secretary-General to

ensure as comprehensive a report as possible;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly

at its fifty-second session and biennially thereafter on further developments

relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and

highly migratory fish stocks, including the status and implementation of the

Agreement, taking into account information provided by States, relevant

specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of

the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes

of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and

arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and

highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental

bodies and non-governmental organizations;

3 A/51/383.