Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean

PURPOSE : to conclude the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean, on behalf of the EU,

NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/130/EU on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean.

CONTENT: the Council adopted this Decision regarding the conclusion of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean on behalf of the EU. This follows the consent of the European Parliament.

The Convention was signed on behalf of the Union on 26 July 2010, subject to its conclusion, in accordance with Council Decision 2011/189/EU. The objective of the Convention is, through the application of the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources and, in so doing, to safeguard the marine ecosystems in which these resources occur.

In giving effect to the objective of the Convention and carrying out decision making under the Convention, the relevant parties must apply, in particular, the following principles;

·        conservation and management of fishery resources shall be conducted in a transparent, accountable and inclusive manner, taking into account best international practices;

·        fishing shall be commensurate with the sustainable use of fishery resources taking into account the impacts on non-target and associated or dependent species and the general obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment;

·        overfishing and excess fishing capacity shall be prevented or eliminated;

·        full and accurate data on fishing, including information relating to impacts on the marine ecosystems in which fishery resources occur, shall be collected, verified, reported and  shared in a timely and appropriate manner;

·        decisions shall be based on the best scientific and technical information available and the advice of all relevant subsidiary bodies;

·        cooperation and coordination among Contracting Parties shall be promoted to ensure that conservation and management measures adopted by the Commission and conservation and management measures applied in respect of the same fishery resources in areas under national jurisdiction are compatible;

·        marine ecosystems shall be protected, in particular those ecosystems which have long recovery times following disturbance;

·        the interests of developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, and of territories and possessions, and the needs of developing State coastal communities, shall be recognised;

·        effective compliance with conservation and management measures shall be ensured and sanctions for any violations shall be adequate in severity to discourage violations wherever they occur and in particular shall deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from their illegal activities; and

·        pollution and waste originating from fishing vessels, discards, catch by lost or abandoned gear and impacts on other species and marine ecosystems shall be minimised.

At the same time, the relevant parties must also apply the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach in accordance the terms of the Convention.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 06/03/2012.