Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries: dispute settlement procedures, scope and objectives of the Convention

PURPOSE: to approve amendments to the Convention on future multilateral co-operation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries allowing for the establishment of a dispute settlement procedures, the extension of the scope of the Convention and a review of the objectives of the Convention.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Convention on future multilateral co-operation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries was signed in London on 18 November 1980 and entered into force on 17 March 1982. The European Community acceded to the Convention on 13 July 1981. The Convention established a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) with the aim of promoting the conservation and optimum utilisation of fisheries resources of the North-East Atlantic within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended Coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries, and accordingly of encouraging international co-operation and consultations with respect to resources.

The Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted an amendment to the Convention at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) in November 2004 allowing NEAFC to adopt Recommendations establishing procedures for the settlement of disputes arising from the Convention. By postal vote on 11 August 2006 the Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted an amendment to the Convention whereby the scope of the Convention is extended so as to include sedentary species and the objectives of the Convention are broadened. The Convention was also amended so as to mention developments in other international fora for fisheries management that have effect on fisheries in the NEAFC Convention area, and certain new definitions were introduced.

The proposed amendments to the Convention would help the Community towards fulfilling the objectives of the EC Treaty. In the light of the fishing possibilities accruing to the Community under the Convention, it is therefore in the Community's interest to approve the proposed amendments.