Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end; also reaffirms the commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to restore depleted fish stocks on an urgent basis and where possible not later than 2015; calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States; urges States to develop and implement national and regional plans of action, to put into effect by 2004 the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the FAO of the UN and to establish effective monitoring, reporting and enforcement and control of fishing vessels; affirms the need to strengthen the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; urges States to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, fish discards and post-harvest losses; 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 UN system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations.

Adopted without vote, 74th plenary meeting

8 p.