FAO Conference resolutions

RESOLUTION

12/2009

Agreement

on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated

Fishing

THE CONFERENCE

Considering

that the

Council

, at its Hundred and Thirty-second Session held in June 2007, noted that illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remained a serious concern and welcomed the initiative to start a process leading to the adoption of a legally-binding international agreement establishing control measures in ports and that such agreement be based on the FAO Model Scheme to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing;

Noting

that a draft Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing developed by the FAO Expert Consultation to Draft a Legally-binding Instrument on Port State Measures in September 2007 served as a basis for the review and elaboration by the Technical Consultation to Draft a Legally-binding Instrument on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, held initially in June 2008, with resumed sessions in January, May and August 2009;

Recognizing

that the Twenty-eighth Session of the

Committee on Fisheries

in March 2009 urged that the legally-binding instrument be concluded as soon as possible;

Acknowledging

that the

Council

, subsequently, at its Hundred and Thirty-sixth Session in June 2009 underscored the importance of combating IUU fishing including the early finalization of a legally-binding instrument on port State measures;

Acknowledging

further that the text of the draft Agreement was finalized on 28 August 2009 by the Technical Consultation to Draft a Legally-binding Instrument on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing;

Having considered

the Report of the Eighty-eighth Session of the

Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters

held in September 2009;

Having examined

the text of the draft Agreement submitted by the Hundred and Thirty-seventh Session of the

Council

held in September and October 2009:

Approves

, in accordance with Article XIV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of FAO, the text of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, reproduced as Appendix E to the Conference’s report, for submission to FAO Members;

Acclaims

the Agreement as a milestone in the international efforts to ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries, in particular, in international efforts to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing;

Urges

Members to sign and ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Agreement as soon as possible so as to bring it into force at the earliest possible time; and

Commends

the

Director-General

for the speedy action taken to bring the Agreement to fruition and calls on him to take all necessary measures to ensure that the Agreement is given full and active implementation.

(Adopted on

22 November 2009

)

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