At the conclusion of the second review of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans issued the statement today which states that all states should pay more attention on the sustainability of the fisheries. It also read that the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) is a key tool that is helping the international community raise the global standard for the sustainable management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks.
Minister Shea said that Canada has played long innings in the development of this Agreement, to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of coastal nation’s fish resources. She expressed that the efforts must continue to ensure broader and stronger implementation of the Agreement.
According to Shea Canada has been a world leader in implementing precautionary and ecosystem approaches in national and high seas fisheries, in strengthening regional fisheries management organizations, and in implementing flag state obligations and port state measures. In this matter the recent adoption of new port state measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by the members of the Food and Agriculture Organization on November 22, 2009 is a welcome development.
Minister Shea opined that Canada supports the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement in its current form and calls upon all States that have yet to sign on to do so as soon as possible, in the interest of strong fish stocks today as well as for future generations.
