Statement by Australian Ambassador H.E Robert Hill for the seventh round of Informal Consultations of States Parties to the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
11 March 2008
(As delivered)
Mr Chairman
My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement made by the Distinguished Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga on behalf of the Pacific Island Forum group of countries represented here in New York. We would also like to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, on your election to the Chair. We are very pleased to have you guiding our discussions once again this year.
Mr Chairman
Australia continues to be a strong supporter of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement and its objectives, and we would like to take this opportunity to note briefly some key initiatives and outcomes that have drawn our attention since last year’s meeting. While we have seen real progress in some areas, other initiatives have yet to deliver on their potential. There are also some areas for which we hold growing concerns.
At the outset, Australia would like to reiterate its call to those countries who have not yet become party to the UN Fish Stocks Agreement to do so at the earliest possible opportunity, thereby giving effect to the vital cooperation envisaged in Art 118 of the Convention. We warmly welcome the eleven States Parties that have acceded to the Agreement since our 2006 Review Conference, including two States since our meeting here last year.
Mr Chairman
Australia welcomes the agreement to implement interim management measures for the pelagic and benthic fisheries in the South Pacific. This reflected the resolute effort of states negotiating a South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) to respond fully to the call in UNGA resolution 61/105 for RFMOs under development to adopt – by 31 December 2007 – management measures for controlling bottom fishing to prevent significant adverse impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems.
As we meet here, the fifth meeting to establish an SPRFMO is underway in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and we sincerely hope that delegations bring a similar resolve to discussions on the draft Convention text, with a view to its conclusion in the near future.
Also noteworthy since our last meeting was adoption by CCAMLR – late last year – of a conservation measure implementing the requirements of resolution 61/105 in relation to bottom fishing. The measure requires a number of steps and mutually reinforcing actions, including a scientific assessment to determine if such fishing activities would contribute to possible significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems; a “move on” rule where vulnerable marine ecosystems are encountered; full observer coverage; and robust data collection and sharing. This conservation measure follows on from an interim restriction on the use of bottom trawling gear adopted in 2006.
I am also happy to report that Australia is in the process of ratifying the South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement. Like the EC, we are disappointed with the apparent lack of urgency towards adopting interim measures for the SIOFA area, as required by Resolution 61/105. In the meantime, and until bottom fisheries interim measures have been agreed, Australia has unilaterally placed additional conditions and licence restrictions on Australian high seas operators in the SIOFA area, including VMS, observers and move-on provisions similar to those now applicable in the South Pacific.
Mr Chairman
Australia has actively championed the institution of RFMO performance reviews, including the review criteria produced jointly by the tuna RFMOs. We note with great satisfaction moves underway within the IOTC, the CCSBT and CCAMLR to subject themselves to review, and we understand that NEAFC has already done so.
Australia is represented on the IOTC review panel (which first met two weeks ago), and we also expect to participate directly in the CCSBT review. We hold high expectations that these reviews will identify key areas of underperformance and opportunities for improvement, especially where current performance is falling short of that anticipated by the Fish Stocks Agreement and the important outcomes of our May 2006 Review Conference.
Mr Chairman
Australia regards RFMO performance as possibly the clearest indicator of States’ collective political will to implement cooperatively the content and spirit of our Agreement. For most RFMOs, the setting and allocation of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is a threshold issue – it has direct relevance for our ability to sustain the fisheries under management. In the absence of these disciplines and a collective will to abide by them, lowest common denominator approaches tend to prevail, typically based on limits applicable to vessel numbers or days of effort. There is emerging evidence, however, that such approaches are inadequate, owing primarily to ineffective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) measures.
As an element of its strong commitment to addressing the scourge of IUU fishing, Australia has committed funding to the Enhanced MCS Network project, which aims to increase the effectiveness and analytical capability of existing MCS capacities. We commend this project to all countries, and encourage them to participate in the upcoming Second Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop, to be held in Trondheim, Norway, from 7 to 11 August 2008.
Similarly, Mr Chairman, we encourage all Parties to support the development of the FAO’s global fishing record – this initiative has the potential to become a powerful tool for detecting, impeding and eliminating vessels that engage in IUU activities.
Finally, Mr Chairman, we see much progress and enthusiasm for implementing the Agreement and the outcomes of the Review Conference. However, greater urgency is required to set aside our disagreements and some of our vested interests to work cooperatively towards lifting RFMO performance, thereby delivering more sustainable outcomes for our fisheries.
Thank you.