Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean

 

SUMMARY OF:

Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean

Decision (EU) 2022/314 on the accession of the European Union to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE CONVENTION AND THE DECISION?

• The convention aims to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources, while protecting the marine ecosystems in which these resources occur. It applies to the North Pacific Ocean beyond areas of national jurisdiction, in accordance with international law. The convention covers all fishery resources excluding:
  • sedentary species (which, at the harvestable stage, are either immobile on or under the seabed or are unable to move except when in constant physical contact with the seabed or the subsoil);
  • catadromous species (fish that spend most of their lives in fresh water, then migrate to the sea to breed); and
  • marine mammals, marine reptiles and seabirds.
• The decision ratifies the convention on behalf of the European Union (EU).

KEY POINTS

Parties to the convention must apply a number of general principles individually or collectively, adopting a precautionary or ecosystem approach. These include:

• promoting the best use and ensuring the long-term sustainability of fishing resources;
• taking steps to ensure fisheries resources are maintained at or restored to sustainable levels;
• protecting biodiversity in the marine environment;
• preventing or eliminating overfishing and excess fishing capacity;
• ensuring that data on fishing activities, including the impact on non-target species, is complete and accurate;
• ensuring compliance with conservation and management rules, along with sanctions to discourage violations and prevent offenders from benefiting from their illegal activities;
• minimising pollution and waste coming from fishing vessels, discards or abandoned gear.

In applying the precautionary approach, the parties must:

• be more cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate;
• not use the absence of adequate scientific information as a reason for failing to take conservation and management action;
• take into account best international practice.

The ecosystem approach is an integrated approach where decisions are made to safeguard the wider marine ecosystems and ensure long-term conservation and the sustainable use of resources.

Organisation

• The convention creates the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), with one member from each contracting party, which meets at least every 2 years.
• There are two subsidiary bodies: a Scientific Committee and a Technical and Compliance Committee.
• The NPFC can also set up other subsidiary bodies to meet the convention’s aims.

Conservation and management

• The NPFC has a number of responsibilities including determining the:
  • nature and extent of fishing for any fishery resource, including a total allowable catch or total allowable fishing effort;
  • areas where fishing may occur;
  • periods when fishing may occur;
  • size limits of a catch that may be retained;
  • permitted types of gear, technology or practices.
• The NPFC must put procedures in place for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing, in order to ensure compliance with the convention.
• The NPFC must also establish an observer programme to collect verified catch and effort data, other scientific data and additional information related to fishing activity and its impacts on the marine environment.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The convention entered into force on 23 March 2022.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• Oceans and fisheries (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean (OJ L 55, 28.2.2022, pp. 14–32).

Council Decision (EU) 2022/314 of 15 February 2022 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean (OJ L 55, 28.2.2022, pp. 12–13).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Montego Bay Convention) (OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, pp. 3–134).

Council Decision 98/392/EC of 23 March 1998 concerning the conclusion by the European Community of the United Nations Convention of 10 December 1982 on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement of 28 July 1994 relating to the implementation of Part XI thereof (OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, pp. 1–2).

last update 26.04.2022