The General Assembly,
Inviting all members of the international community, particularly
those with fishing interests, to strengthen their cooperation
in the conservation and management of living marine resources
in accordance with international law as reflected in the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
Recalling Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development, in particular its chapter 17,
concerning the sustainable development and conservation of the
marine living resources of areas under national jurisdiction,
Recalling also the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, adopted by the
Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States, in particular chapter IV, concerning the sustainable
development and conservation of the coastal and marine resources
of areas under national jurisdiction,
Noting that, in the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development the international community recognized that the special
situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the
least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, should
be given special priority,
Expressing deep concern at the detrimental impact of unauthorized
fishing in zones under national jurisdiction, where the overwhelming
proportion of the global fish catch is harvested, on the sustainable
development of the world's fishery resources and on the food security
and economies of many States, particularly the developing countries,
Reaffirming the rights and duties of coastal States to
ensure proper conservation and management measures with respect
to the living resources in zones under their national jurisdiction,
in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
Taking note of recent discussions, at the international,
regional and subregional levels, on fishery conservation and management
measures, and on compliance with and enforcement thereof,
1. Calls upon States to take the responsibility, consistent
with their obligations under international law as reflected in
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to take measures
to ensure that no fishing vessels entitled to fly their national
flag fish in zones under the national jurisdiction of other States
unless duly authorized by the competent authorities of the coastal
State or States concerned; such authorized fishing operations
should be carried out in accordance with the conditions set out
in the authorization;
2. Calls upon development assistance organizations to make
it a high priority to support efforts, including through financial
and/or technical assistance by the developing coastal States,
in particular the least developed countries and the small island
developing States, to improve the monitoring and control of fishing
activities, and the enforcement of fishing regulations;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present
resolution to the attention of all members of the international
community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations
and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional
fisheries bodies, and relevant non-governmental organizations;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the
General Assembly, at its fiftieth session, a report on the steps
taken and on problems encountered in the implementation of the
present resolution, and thereafter as may be determined by the
Assembly.
92nd plenary meeting
19 December 1994