Highly Migratory Fish Stocks Conservation: convention for the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

PURPOSE : accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision. CONTENT : the proposed Council Decision approves the accession of the European Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific ocean. The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA). For this purpose, the Convention establishes a fisheries Commission of which all Contracting Parties to the Convention are members, known as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The Convention applies to all species of highly migratory fish stocks (as listed in Annex I of UNCLOS) and such other species of fish as the Commission may determine, occurring in the Convention Area, except sauries. The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean was open for signature at the 7th session of the Multilateral High Level Conference held in Honolulu, on 5 September 2000. As of 1 October 2003, 19 States had signed the Convention and 10 had ratified it. The Convention will enter into force 30 days after the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by three States situated north of the 20° parallel of north latitude and seven States situated south of the 20° parallel of north latitude. However, if, within three years of its adoption (i.e. by September 2003), the Convention has not been ratified by three States situated north of the 20° parallel of north latitude, it will nevertheless enter into force six months after the deposit of the thirteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. At present, therefore, three ratification instruments are needed for the Convention to enter into force. FINANCIAL IMPLICATION : - Budget line : 110302 (ex B78001): International fisheries: contributions to international organisations; - Total allocation for action (Part B): open-ended action; - Period of application: from 2005 onwards; - Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure: annual expenditure will depend on the contribution the Community must make to the Organisation's budget; - Total commitments appropriations : EUR 0.732 million/year.�