High Seas Governance

The governance of the oceans has gained increasing importance. Increasing focus is being placed on a high seas implementing agreement to address the governance gaps in the high seas.

The General Assembly has played an increasing role in recent years in oceans governance.  In 2006, an ad hoc open-ended informal working group on marine biological diversity discussed threats to marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and the Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP) discussed implementing the ecosystems approach. The General Assembly passed the 2006 oceans resolution and fisheries resolution.

In July, the Informal Consultative Process failed to reach consensu on the relevant legal regime for marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

South Pacific RFMO

In Reñaca, Chile in May, participants at the third meeting to negotiate the formation of a new South Pacific regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) agreed important Interim Measures covering pelagic fisheries, bottom fisheries, and data sharing and collection.

To protect vulnerable marine ecosystems such as cold water corals and sponge fields from damage from bottom trawling, the landmark interim measures introduce environmental impact assessments before fishing in the high seas and precautionary protection measures. Locator monitoring systems and observers will be required on every bottom trawling vessel

The fourth meeting will be held in Noumea on September 10-14.