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CBD - Documents adopted at the 10th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
The tenth meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) took place in Bangkok, Thailand in February 2005. The meeting adopted 13 recommendations, three of which were of particular relevance to marine biodiversity, concerning: Island biodiversity; Global outcome-oriented targets for the implementation of the programmes of work on the biological diversity of inland water ecosystems and marine and coastal biodiversity; and Climate change (terms of reference of an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group).

Ministerial Declaration of the Conference on Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the UN Fish Agreement
The Conference on Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the UN Fish Agreement – Moving from Words to Action was an international conference organized by the Government of Canada and took place in St John's in May 2005. Following a ministerial segment, ministers or their representatives from 19 countries adopted a Declaration in which they urged all States to ratify international agreements, such as the UN Fish Agreement. They Declaration also acknowledges the need to modernize high seas fisheries organizations by: making decisions based on sound science; using the precautionary approach to ensure the conservation of fish stocks; ensuring the rules of these organizations are clear, understandable and consistent with international agreements; and enforcing catches and fishing effort to ensure compliant fishing behaviour.

Protocol to the EU - Comoros Fisheries Agreement (2005-2010)
 - Commission proposal 
This Protocol to the 1988 EU-Comoros Fisheries Agreement was initialled by the European Commission and Comoros in November 2004. Under the Protocol, which applies for six years from 1 January 2005, 40 tuna seiners and 17 long-liners from the EU may fish in the Comoros EEZ in return for annual financial compensation of €390,000. The Protocol also amends the 1988 Agreement to include greater provision for control measures and support for the Comorian fisheries sector, in line with the EU’s ‘partnership arrangement’ policy.

Report on DEEP SEA 2003, an International Conference on Governance and Management of Deep-Sea Fisheries. Queenstown, New Zealand 1–5 December 2003.
The DEEP SEA 2003 Conference took place in Queenstown, New Zealand in December 2003. The Conference, attended by officials, scientists, economists, lawyers and other experts from 36 countries,  addressed issues relating to ecosystem biology; the protection of biodiversity and conservation of deepwater fauna and their habitats; current knowledge of the population and fishery biology of the deepwater and slope fisheries resources; the needs of resource management including development of stock assessment techniques and evaluation of harvesting strategies; the technology and fishing tactics of deepwater fisheries; national, regional and international strategies and policies for governance of the deep seas; management protocols including the need for development of new international protocols and means of facilitating their implementation; and the identification of programmes for the implementation of the required strategies. This is the final report of the Conference (the proceedings will be published separately), as well as the reports of four pre-conference workshops on: Assessment and Management of Deepwater Fisheries; Conservation and Management of Deepwater Chondrichthyan Fishes; Management of Small-Scale Deepwater Fisheries; and Marine Bioprospecting.

IOSEA-MOU - Resolution 3.1 - Urging the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and its member States to address marine turtle by-catch issues within the IOSEA Region
IOSEA-MOU - Resolution 3.2 - Policies for fisheries and coastal development activities in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia in the aftermath of the tsunami of 26 December 2004
The Third Meeting of the Signatory States to the Indian Ocean – South East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding took place in Bangkok, Thailand in March/April 2005. The Meeting adopted two resolutions aimed at raising the profile of turtle conservation issues in the Indian Ocean. Resolution 3.1 urges the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and its member States to address marine turtle by-catch issues within the IOSEA region. Resolution 3.2 urges States and organizations involved in reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami to be guided by sound principles of sustainable fisheries and integrated coastal zone management, and to take into account impacts on marine turtles.

SWIOFC - Rules of Procedure of the Commission
The draft Rules of Procedure for the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) have been drawn up. They are subject to adoption at the first session of the Commission (18-20 April 2005) and approval by the FAO Director-General. The Rules cover, inter alia: officers of the Commission; organization and conduct of meetings (Sessions), including voting procedures and the participation of observers; reports; expenses; and the establishment of the Scientific Committee and other subsidiary bodies.

Panama - Resolution concerning marine turtle excluder devices
Resolution Nº 251 of 15 September 2004 concerning marine turtle excluder devices amends Panamanian fisheries legislation to introduce a requirement that all fishing vessels using trawls in Panamanian waters use a turtle excluder advice when fishing. [Text in Spanish]

FAO - Report of the Workshop of The Role of Regional Fishery Bodies and the CWP in Implementation of the FAO Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries
The FAO/CWP workshop on the role of Regional Fishery Bodies and the CWP in Implementation of the FAO Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries (Strategy-STF) was hosted by ICES in February/March 2005 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The objective of the workshop was to identify the roles that RFBs and CWP could play in the implementation of the Strategy-STF. Participants representing RFBs and FAO discussed areas of common interest with the Strategy-STF, possible partnership activities, implementation arrangement for partnership activities and the needs for capacity building in RFBs. The Workshop made a number of recommendations with regard to future partnership activities.

Report of the First Consultative Workshop of the Strategic Partnership for a Sustainable Fisheries Investment Fund in the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMS) of Sub-Saharan Africa
The First Consultative Workshop of the Strategic Partnership for a Sustainable Fisheries Investment Fund in the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of Sub-Saharan Africa was convened by FAO, World Bank and WWF, in Dakar, Senegal in January 2005. The meeting agreed that strengthened sector governance was required in order to achieve WSSD targets for fisheries sustainability and poverty reduction and endorsed the Strategic Partnership as a useful funding mechanism to help generate additional assistance. The meeting attained broad agreement on the goals and objectives of the Strategic Partnership and its operating principles, as well as on the project eligibility criteria and the types of projects to be supported by the Investment Fund. It also agreed on the main components of its governance structure including a regional advisory committee (RAC) and a small secretariat that should be funded separately.

FAO - Report of the Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – Caribbean Subregion
This FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – Caribbean Subregion took place in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in November 2004. The purpose of the Workshop was to assist countries in the subregion to develop capacity to elaborate national plans of action on IUU fishing (NPOAs–IUU). The Workshop addressed issues relating to the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the 2001 IPOA-IUU and Technical Guidelines No. 9; concepts of planning and the elaboration of action plans; a case study for the development of a NPOA-IUU in a small island developing State; decision-making about IUU fishing and skills enhancement through the identification of key issues relating to the elaboration of NPOAs-IUU.

NEAFC - Report of the PECCOE Extraordinary Meeting
Report of the Extraordinary Meeting of the NEAFC Permanent Committee on Control and Enforcement (PECCOE), which took place on 11 April in Reykjavík, Iceland. The meeting considered a Norwegian proposal for a NEAFC Scheme on Port State Control; vessel lists under the NEAFC Non-Contracting Party Scheme; articulation of the work of the “Advisory Group for Data Communications”; conversion factors; and lost and abandoned gear in the Convention Area.

Report of the Fourth Intergovernmental Consultation on the Establishment of a Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission
The Fourth Intergovernmental Consultation on the Establishment of a Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission took place in Mahé, Seychelles, in July 2004. The Consultation made final editorial revisions to drafts developed at the previous Consultation, and then adopted a draft Resolution and Statutes for the establishment of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission for submission to the FAO Council. The Consultation also carried out a first reading and discussion of a draft text of an instrument for the high seas and agreed to prepare a negotiating text for the next Intergovernmental Consultation (to be organized outside the FAO framework). As an interim measure, until the establishment of a high seas instrument, a Resolution concerning the collection and handling of information and data was adopted.

Report of the Secretary-General on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (A/60/63)
This is the now regular UN Secretary-General Report on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (prepared in response to the request in General Assembly Resolution 59/24). The report covers developments and issues relating to oceans and the law of the sea, including a review of the status of the LOS Convention and implementing Agreements and declarations and statements made by States under articles 287, 298 and 310 of the Convention. As regards fisheries, the report focuses on the priorities identified for discussion at the sixth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea and addresses: the role of fisheries in sustainable development; legal and policy frameworks enhancing the contribution of fisheries to sustainable development; factors limiting the contribution of fisheries to sustainable development; and capacity-building activities of international organizations promoting sustainable fisheries. The report also includes a section on the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

FAO - Ministerial Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami
The Rome Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami was adopted at the FAO Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, held after the 26th Session of COFI in March 2005, in Rome, Italy. In the Declaration, the Ministers expressed their commitment to assist with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damage inflicted by the Tsunami disaster. The Declaration emphasizes the need for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation to focus on rebuilding the livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers, but also recognizes the need to redress environmental degradation and emphasizes the need for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation to be in line with the principles of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

UN - Resolution A/59/24 on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
UN - Resolution A/59/25 on Sustainable Fisheries
Final texts of UN General Assembly Resolutions agreed during its 59th Session in 2004: Resolution A/59/24 on "Oceans and the law of the sea" and Resolution A/59/25 on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 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 Stocks, and related instruments".

First Meeting of the High Seas Task Force: Summary of Outcomes
The first substantive meeting of the ministerially-led Task Force on IUU Fishing on the High Seas (High Seas Task Force) took place in Paris in March 2005. This document is the summary of outcomes from that meeting, and covers: the high seas MCS network; the global information system on high seas fishing vessels; flag State performance; port State controls; control over nationals; high seas governance; public education and outreach.

CCAMLR - Report of the XXIIIth Session of the Commission
This document is the adopted record of the 23rd Annual Meeting of CCAMLR, which took place in Hobart, Australia in October/November 2004. Major topics discussed at the meeting included: review of the Report of the Scientific Committee; IUU fishing in the Convention Area; assessment and avoidance of incidental mortality of marine living resources; new and exploratory fisheries; current operation of the System of Inspection and the Scheme of International Scientific Observation; review of existing conservation measures; management under conditions of uncertainty; and cooperation with other international organisations including the ATS and CITES. A number of new conservation measures were adopted. The Reports of the Standing Committee on Administration and Finance and the Standing Committee on Implementation and Compliance are appended.

FAO - Report of the Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries
The Technical Consultation on International Guidelines for Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries was convened by FAO at the request of the 25th session of the Committee of Fisheries  and the 9th session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade and took place in Rome in October 2004. The Consultation, attended by representatives from 57 FAO members, stressed the benefits of internationally agreed guidelines aimed at avoiding the misuse of eco-labelling schemes through, inter alia, preventing them becoming barriers to trade and made progress in completing the guidelines, in particular the part dealing with the procedural and institutional aspects of eco-labelling schemes. The Consultation nevertheless acknowledged that more work was still necessary on, inter alia, terms and definitions and the minimum substantive requirements and criteria.

Canada - National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (NPOA-IUU)
The stated purpose of this document is to specify Canada’s plans to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; to provide a description of Canada’s existing policies and legislation related to this problem; and to identify ongoing programs and projects to address it. The NPOA-IUU elaborates solutions to Canada’s IUU fishing concerns with respect to overcapacity, lack of effective flag State control by both contracting parties and non-contracting parties and non-compliance with no consequences by contracting parties to regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs). It specifies actions at the national, bilateral, regional and global levels which are recommended for governmental action.

Report of the Regional Workshop on Rehabilitation of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Coastal Communities of tsunami affected countries in Asia
The regional workshop on Rehabilitation of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Coastal Communities of tsunami affected countries in Asia  was organised by a consortium of regional fisheries/aquaculture bodies (CONSRN) and  was hosted by FAO in Bangkok, Thailand in February/March 2005. The meeting was attended by 53 participants including representatives from six of the  tsunami affected countries and participants from the CONSRN consortium, donor agencies and NGOs. The workshop was organized around four sessions concerned with: country priorities for rehabilitation; rehabilitation vision and guiding principles; rehabilitation strategies; and aligning donors, agencies and countries to strategies. The participants agreed on guiding principles designed to provide the ground rules for the development and implementation of regional and country level rehabilitation activities of CONSRN and its partners and adopted a number of recommendations.

FIRMS - 2nd Steering Committee Meeting: Final Report
The Second Session of the FIRMS Steering Committee took place in Copenhagen in February, 2005. Representatives of several Partner agencies (IATTC, ICES, ICCAT, SEAFDEC and NAFO) took part, as well as an observer of CCAMLR. The meeting discussed progress on the development of FIRMS Partnership; reviewed new perspective Partners (in particular WCPFC, NEAFC, NASCO, IWC and GFCM) and Partnership Arrangements with existing members (NAFO, SEAFDEC and CCAMLR); and discussed also the FIRMS Information management policy (IMP), progress of the FIRMS Database and Module Development and a potential Strategy for FIRMS partnership in promoting the development of a global network for reporting on fisheries and stocks status and trends.

IPHC - Pacific Halibut Fishery Regulations 2005
These are the revised regulations for the Pacific halibut fishery in 2005, adopted at the 81st Annual Meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission in Victoria, British Columbia. The Regulations fix catch limits, licensing requirements, fishing areas and other measures for the commercial fishery and set regulations also for customary and traditional fishing and sport fishing.

IDCP - Minutes of the 37th Meeting of the International Review Panel
IDCP - Minutes of the 12th Meeting of the Parties to AIDCP
The 37th meeting of the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) International Review Panel (IRP) and the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP) took place in October 2004 in La Jolla, United States. The IRP meeting reviewed the status of the assignments, reallocations and utilization of dolphin mortality limits (DMLs) in 2004 and reviewed the vessels qualified to receive DMLs for 2005 and the AIDCP List of Qualified Captains. It also agreed to propose slight amendments to technical requirements in the AIDCP concerning dolphin safety gear and equipment for vessels with DMLs; reviewed observer data and schemes; and reviewed actions by Parties on possible infractions reported by the IRP. The Meeting of the Parties reviewed the Report of the IRP; adopted amendments to the terms of reference of the Joint Working Group on Fishing by Non-Parties; adopted criteria for attaining the status of cooperating non-party or fishing entity; agreed to the establishment of a list of IUU fishing vessels (see Resolutions).

Report of the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing – Southeast Asia Subregion
This document contains the report of, and some of the papers presented at, the FAO Regional Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – Southeast Asia Subregion which was held in Penang, Malaysia, in October 2004. The purpose of the Workshop was to assist countries in Southeast Asia to develop capacity so that they would be better placed to elaborate National Plans of Action on IUU fishing (NPOAs–IUU). The Workshop addressed the 2001 IPOA–IUU and the Technical Guidelines that have been developed to support its implementation; concepts of planning and the elaboration of action plans; a case study for the development of a NPOA–IUU; and skills enhancement through the identification of key issues relating to NPOAs–IUU.

FAO - Report of the Expert Consultation on Data Formats and Procedures for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
The Expert Consultation on Data Formats and Procedures for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) took place in Bergen, Norway, in October 2004. The Expert Consultation was convened in accordance with the recommendation of the FAO’s Committee on Fisheries, with a view to facilitating implementation of the IPOA-IUU. The experts focused on the harmonization of data formats for MCS information that is exchanged internationally. The Consultation agreed several recommendations for more effective harmonization and exchange of MCS information.

GFCM - Report of the 7th session of the Scientific Advisory Committee
The seventh session of the GFCM Scientific Advisory Committee was held in Rome, Italy, in October 2004. The Committee reviewed work by its subcommittees during the intersessional period; appraised scientific activities; formulated advice on fishery management; and agreed on its workplan for 2005. The Committee emphasized the need to develop task-oriented advisory processes driven by the Commission and to formulate multidisciplinary management advice, encompassing multispecies fisheries and in conformity with an ecosystem approach.

CCAMLR - Conservation Measures adopted at the XXIII Meeting of the Commission
The 23rd Annual Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) took place in Hobart, Australia in October/November 2004. The Commission adopted a large number of conservation measures, dealing, inter alia, with: licensing and inspection obligations; satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems; the Catch Documentation Scheme for toothfish; the Scheme to promote compliance by Contracting Party vessels with CCAMLR Conservation Measures; limitation of bycatch; catch limits and other conservation measures for a number of fisheries, including certain experimental and exploratory fisheries. The Commission also adopted three new Resolutions, concerning: the Electronic Catch Documentation Scheme for toothfish; incidental mortality of seabirds arising from fishing; and safety on board fishing vessels.

ACAP - Resolutions adopted at the First Meeting of the Parties
 - ACAP - Report of the First Meeting of the Parties
The First Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) was held in Hobart, Australia in November 2004. The meeting focussed on organizational matters and also adopted emergency criteria ("criteria to define emergency situations that require urgent conservation measures and the modalities for assigning responsibility for action to be taken") and agreed on priorities for future work under the Agreement. Five resolutions were adopted on: the Agreement Secretariat, the Budget, the Scale of Contributions, Emergency Criteria and the Advisory Committee. The meeting also adopted rules of procedure and financial regulations.

Draft Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
  
Mauritius Declaration
The International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ("the Barbados Programme of Action") took place in Port Louis, Mauritius in January 2005. The major product of the Conference was the Mauritius Strategy, which provides for further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action. As regards marine living resources, the Strategy encourages, inter alia: the effective monitoring, reporting, enforcement and control of fishing vessels to further implement the IPOAs on IUU fishing and fishing capacity; the development of responsible fisheries in line with the FAO Code of Conduct; developing the necessary infrastructure and legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, international law. It also encourages distant-water fishing nations to provide small island developing States with adequate technical and financial support to enhance the effective and sustainable management of their fisheries resources and encourages the utilization of regional mechanisms to put in place integrated policies and sound management approaches, such as marine protected areas.

WCPFC - Final Report of the Preparatory Conference
The Interim Secretariat of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Preparatory Conference has issued the final report of the Conference, which includes all official documents issued during the Conference. The final session of the Preparatory Conference took place in December 2004, immediately prior to the inaugural session of the Commission.

FAO - Report of the Workshop on IUU Fishing in the Mediterranean
The Workshop on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean took place in Rome, Italy, in June 2004.  The Report records the discussions and conclusions of the Workshop and, in addition, contains a detailed study on IUU fishing in the Mediterranean and management responses to it, prepared by an FAO consultant for the meeting. This study reviews the status and implementation of the IPOA-IUU in the Mediterranean, referring inter alia to: the contexts in which IUU fishing has been addressed by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM); adoption of national plans of action (NPOAs) on IUU fishing by GFCM Members, including European Union responses.