Review and Analysis of International Legal and Policy Instruments Related
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REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO DEEP-SEA FISHERIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION Cover photograph: Unknown fish (possibly Antimora spp.) photographed in waters 1 800–3 000 m, 300 km northeast of St John’s, Canada. Courtesy of Bedford Institute of Oceanography. REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO DEEP-SEA FISHERIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION Dr James Harrison Director of the Scottish Centre for International Law University of Edinburgh Law School Mr Terje Lobach International Legal specialist Prof Elisa Morgera Director of the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance University of Strathclyde Law School with technical inputs by Mr Pio Manoa Development Law Service FAO Legal Office The ABNJ Deep Seas Project Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation of Deep-sea Living Marine Resources and Ecosystems in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) )RRGDQG$JULFXOWXUH2UJDQL]DWLRQRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV 5RPH The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 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REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO DEEP-SEA FISHERIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN ABNJ TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ viii ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... iv PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT ................................................................................ vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................... vii 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 2. INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF DEEP-SEA FISHING AND THE CONSERVATION OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION .......................................................................... 2 3. OVERVIEW AND SCOPE OF THE ANALYSIS ........................................................ 4 4. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS .............. 5 5. 1982 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS) ...... 6 5.1 Fishing on the high seas ..................................................................................... 7 5.2 Jurisdiction and control of vessels on the high seas ......................................... 8 5.3 The protection and preservation of the marine environment .......................... 9 5.4 Protection of the marine environment on the seabed beyond national jurisdiction ........................................................................................................ 10 5.5 Developments on biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction ............ 11 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 12 6. GLOBAL FISHERIES INSTRUMENTS RELEVANT TO DEEP-SEA FISHERIES AND ITS IMPACT ON MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION ......................................................................................................... 13 6.1 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) ............................................. 13 6.1.1 General ................................................................................................................ 14 6.1.2 Duty to cooperate ............................................................................................... 15 6.1.3 Flag state duties .................................................................................................. 15 6.1.4 Port state measures ............................................................................................. 16 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 16 iii REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO DEEP-SEA FISHERIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN ABNJ 6.2 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) ..................................... 17 6.2.1 Definitions and application ................................................................................. 17 6.2.2 Entry into port ..................................................................................................... 17 6.2.3 Use of port ........................................................................................................... 18 6.2.4 Inspections and follow-up actions ...................................................................... 18 6.2.5 Role of flag states ................................................................................................ 18 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 18 6.3 FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Compliance Agreement) ................................................................................. 19 6.3.1 Scope of application ............................................................................................ 19 6.3.2 Flag state responsibility ....................................................................................... 20 6.3.3 Record of fishing vessels ..................................................................................... 21 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 21 6.4 Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (the Code) ................................... 21 6.4.1 General principles and management objectives ................................................ 22 6.4.2 Flag state responsibilities .................................................................................... 22 6.4.3 Port state measures ............................................................................................. 23 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 23 6.5 International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas (Deep-sea Fisheries Guidelines) ....................................................... 24 6.5.1 Effort controls and/or catch controls .................................................................. 24 6.5.2 The protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems and temporal and spatial restrictions or closures ......................................................................................... 25 6.5.3 Encounter protocols ............................................................................................ 25 6.5.4 Use of selective gear............................................................................................ 25 6.5.5 Reporting ............................................................................................................. 26 6.5.6 Enforcement and compliance ............................................................................. 26 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 26 6.6 International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) ........................................... 27 6.6.1 Nationals .............................................................................................................. 27 6.6.2 Stateless vessels ..................................................................................................