Highlights and images for 26 May 2023

The final gavel of President Joji Morishita left delegates and participants with mixed feelings at the Resumed Review Conference on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, known as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA).

On the one hand, delegates adopted the outcome document of the Resumed Review Conference by consensus, including a series of recommendations aiming to ensure the long-term conservation and management of highly migratory and straddling fish stocks. They reiterated their commitment to fulfil their obligations under UNFSA and further committed to apply an ecosystem approach to the management of fisheries.

On the other hand, many delegations expressed their disappointment on limited progress and failure to reach consensus on incorporating a number of important issues and recent developments in the outcome document, such as: the impacts of climate change on fish stocks; the effective conclusion of the negotiations on the agreement on an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement); and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In closing remarks, President Morishita stressed that UNFSA members, regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and their members, and all the stakeholders are responsible for the conservation and management of marine living resources and ecosystems. He emphasized that the Resumed Review Conference is “not the place to intensify divisions and differences” but to “express our views and strengthen coordination and cooperation to address challenges in front of us,” noting that the in-person meeting provided such a space. He regretted the low level of representation from the Global South, stressing that, despite participation-related difficulties and limitations, “we know that the production, utilization, and responsibility for conservation of marine genetic resources is now, in many cases, in the hands of countries in the Global South.”

He thanked all delegates and participants for their hard work and commitment. He noted that the conference will be resumed at a time yet to be determined, not earlier than 2028. He joked that “at the beginning of the week, I thought we would spend a long Friday night, but now we can all enjoy an evening in New York” and suspended the Resumed Review Conference at 4:27 pm.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary and analysis of the Resumed Review Conference will be available on Tuesday, 30 May 2023 at https://enb.iisd.org/2023-resumed-review-conference-un-fish-stocks-agreement-unfsa