RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/53/L.45 and Add.1)]

53/33. Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of

national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and

discards, and other developments

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994,

51/36 of 9 December 1996 and 52/29 of 26 November 1997, as well as other resolutions on large-scale

pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas,

fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments,

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,1

Emphasizing the useful role that report plays in bringing together information relating to the

sustainable development of the world’s marine living resources, provided by States, relevant

intergovernmental organizations, regional and subregional fisheries organizations, and non-governmental

organizations,

Noting with satisfaction that, while significant work remains, interested parties have made real

progress towards sustainable fisheries management,

Welcoming the progress in organizing new regional organizations and arrangements in several

heretofore unmanaged fisheries,

1 A/53/473.

Noting that the secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations stated that

60 to 70 per cent of world fisheries are either fully exploited or overfished, and encouraging, in this

regard, the current intergovernmental negotiating process at that organization to address the issue of fishing

overcapacity,

Noting with concern the reports of continued loss of sea birds, particularly albatross, as a result of

incidental mortality from long-line fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including

sharks and fin-fish species, as a result of incidental mortality,

Conscious of the need to promote and facilitate international cooperation, especially at the regional

and subregional levels, in order to ensure the sustainable development and use of the living marine

resources of the world’s oceans and seas, consistent with the present resolution and with the duties of

States to cooperate in the conservation and management of marine living resources, in accordance with

the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,2

Once again expressing concern at the impact of large-scale drift-net fishing on the marine living

resources of the oceans and seas, and noting that there are continuing reports of activities inconsistent with

the terms of resolution 46/215,

Concerned also to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world

does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift-nets that contravene the resolution,

Expressing concern at the detrimental impact of unauthorized fishing in areas under national

jurisdiction on the sustainable development of the world’s fishery resources and on the food security and

economies of many States, particularly developing States, and the continuing reports of unauthorized

fishing activities, inconsistent with the terms of resolution 49/116, in zones of national jurisdiction,

Recalling that, pursuant to a proposal made at the twenty-second session of the Committee on

Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in March 1997, that organization

agreed to organize an expert consultation to develop and propose guidelines leading to a plan of action

aiming at a reduction in the incidental catch of sea birds, to organize an expert consultation to develop

and propose guidelines leading to a plan of action for the conservation and effective management of shark

populations, and to hold a technical consultation on the management of fishing capacity to draft guidelines

for the control and management of fishing capacities,

Noting with satisfaction that the Consultation on Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries

and the Incidental Catch of Sea Birds, held from 26 to 30 October 1998, and its preparatory meeting, held

in July 1998, produced draft plans of action or elements thereof for approval at the February 1999 meeting

of the Committee on Fisheries,

Recognizing the importance 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 Stocks3 and the Agreement to Promote

2 Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XVII (United

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

Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High

Seas, and noting that neither of these agreements has yet entered into force,

Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries sets out principles and global standards

of behaviour for responsible practices to conserve, manage and develop fisheries, including guidelines for

fishing on the high seas and in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, and on fishing gear

selectivity and practices, with the aim of reducing by-catch and discards,

Recalling that Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development,4 calls upon States to take effective action, consistent with international law, to deter

reflagging of vessels by their nationals as a means of avoiding compliance with applicable conservation

and management rules for fishing vessels on the high seas,

Noting with satisfaction that “Oceans and seas” will be the sectoral theme discussed by the

Commission on Sustainable Development at its seventh session in 1999,

1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to sustainable management and conservation of the marine

living resources of the world’s oceans and seas, and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in

accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention

on the Law of the Sea, in particular, the provisions on cooperation set out in part V and part VII, section

2, of the Convention regarding straddling stocks, highly migratory species, marine mammals, anadromous

stocks and marine living resources of the high seas;

2. Also reaffirms the importance it attaches to compliance with its resolutions 46/215, 49/116,

49/118 and 52/29, and urges States and other entities to enforce fully such measures;

3. Requests all participants to work for the adoption of the outcomes of the technical consultation

of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held in Rome from 26 to 30 October

1998, and encourages all States to act responsibly, as appropriate, at national, regional and global levels

to implement the action plans or the guidelines, in particular those for the management of fishing capacity,

once adopted by the Committee on Fisheries;

4. Calls upon States and other entities referred to in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), 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 Stocks3 that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Agreement to consider doing so at the

earliest possible time, and to consider applying it provisionally;

5. Also calls upon States and other entities referred to in article 10, paragraph 1, of the Agreement

to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels

on the High Seas that have not submitted instruments of acceptance of the Agreement to consider doing

so at the earliest possible time;

4 Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June

1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the

6. Urges all authorities of members of the international community that have not done so to take

7. Calls upon States that have not done so to take measures, including measures to deter reflagging

8. Urges States, relevant international organizations and regional and subregional fisheries

9. Reiterates its call on organizations with development assistance programmes to make it a high

10. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members

11. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that reporting on all major fisheries-related

12. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session

13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fifth session, under the item entitled

“Oceans and law of the sea”, the sub-item entitled “Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized

fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other

developments”.