FISHERIES AGREEMENTS SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED FOR RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION, UNITED STATES TELLS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Press Release
ENV/DEV/353

FISHERIES AGREEMENTS SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED FOR RATIFICATION, IMPLEMENTATION, UNITED STATES TELLS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Commission on Sustainable Development should recommend the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the representative of the United States told the Commission this afternoon, as it began its review of Agenda 21 sectoral clusters dealing with protection of the atmosphere and of oceans and all kinds of seas.

With regard to protection of the atmosphere, the United States representative said that the use of leaded gasoline remained the leading environmental health hazard in many urban areas. The Commission should urge countries to shift to the use of unleaded gasoline for automobiles and other modes of transportation.

The representative of Italy, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the Commission should give special attention to the application of market mechanisms to promote environmentally sound pricing policies and competition. The fourth session of the Commission should endorse: ratification of agreements dealing with the atmosphere and climate change; the precautionary approach in decision-making; policy instruments that would include the elimination of environment-damaging subsidies and disincentives to efficient energy use; and a holistic and coordinated approach to energy issues in the United Nations system.

The representative of Canada said that the international community had done well to address the many pressing ocean issues and to promote the sustainable development of the oceans. A periodic review by the Commission of the sustainable development of the oceans would be useful in that regard. Switzerland's representative called on the Commission to state clearly that human activities were affecting the global climate and that reductions in emissions were called for. Subsidies which lead to inefficient use of energy should be eliminated, and tradable carbon permits and the use of alternative fuels should be encouraged.

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The failure of developed countries to comply with their obligations regarding financial support for the implementation of Agenda 21 was a major problem for coastal zone and oceans management, the representative of Colombia said. Bearing in mind the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, developed countries should reduce their emissions of pollution into the atmosphere and provide financial support and new technology on concessional and preferential terms.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said that urban air pollution attributable to the transport sector was growing. States should endeavour to use alternative fuels and implement action plans to increase energy efficiency. The representative of Iran called on industrialized nations to engage in active technical cooperation with developing countries, and to provide new and emerging technologies. The primary responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions lay with the developed countries, the representative of the Philippines said.

Also speaking to the Commission were the representatives of Sweden, India, Morocco, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Thailand.

The Commission will continue its discussion when it meets again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 24 April.

Commission Work Programme

The Commission on Sustainable Development met this afternoon to undertake a review of sectoral clusters, concentrating on protection of the atmosphere and protection of oceans and all kinds of seas.

It has before it a report of the Secretary-General on Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources (document E/CN.17/1996/3). The report reviews progress in the implementation of the objectives set out in chapter 17 of Agenda 21 since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June 1992 and presents a set of recommendations for action.

The report states that significant progress had been made since UNCED, including in the development and implementation of guidelines for integrated coastal area management (ICAM) for various levels of governance. Those guidelines were being applied by countries and financing institutions in a growing number of technical assistance projects. Also, the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities adopted in November 1995 in Washington, D.C. would provide the basis for national and international action to reduce pollution of the oceans from land-based activities, the report states.

The report states that the legal framework for sustainable use and conservation of living aquatic resources in the oceans has been substantially improved since UNCED. It recommends that the Commission on Sustainable Development encourage governments to develop plans for integrated coastal area management, as well as to develop regional, national and/or local coral reef initiatives, using an ecosystem-based, integrated approach that encourages participation and includes programmes for community-based management or co-management of reef resources.

On marine pollution, it recommends that governments establish self-sustaining financial mechanisms in support of: training of personnel; navigational safety and anti-pollution measures in international straits; waste reception facilities in ports; and salvage and emergency response facilities and capacity-building in hydrographic surveying and nautical charting. It adds that governments should address the need to develop, at the global level, a regulatory framework for offshore oil and gas extraction activities.

The report states that donor governments should consider increasing their financial support to the initiatives undertaken by developing countries and countries with economies in transition, through bilateral and multilateral channels, for national, regional (including support to regional organizations) and global programmes. They should enhance their contribution to the Global

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Environment Facility (GEF), which has become a critical funding source, especially in regard to the ocean-related activities under the international waters and biodiversity components, as reflected in the 1995 operational strategy for GEF.

An addendum to the report (document E/CN.17/1996/3/Add.1) provides additional and more detailed information on the implementation of chapter 17 of Agenda 21. It provides an overview of main policy issues, experience gained and progress achieved, as well as country experiences and experiences of major groups and non-governmental organizations.

The addendum states that the United Nations system had contributed to raising awareness of sustainable development issues in the oceans and coastal areas. However, there was a lack of additional support for the burden that the various post-UNCED activities represented for countries and for United Nations agencies. There was also an insufficient flow of financial resources in support of national implementation, while the pace of the development of national capacity had remained slow, particularly in the areas of information systems, research and institutions. Also, the needed modifications of consumption patterns had not yet been made.

The report of the ad hoc inter-sessional working group on sectoral issues (document E/CN.17/1996/6) entitled "Review of sectoral clusters: Protection of the atmosphere and protection of the oceans and all kinds of seas", focuses on key issues and conclusions, and suggests possible recommendations and policy options for consideration by the Commission at its fourth session.

The report recommends that particular attention be devoted to the potential need for the continued use of certain persistent organic pollutants to safeguard human health, sustain food production and alleviate poverty in the absence of alternatives, as well as to the difficulty of acquiring substitutes and transferring technology for the development and/or production of such substitutes. According to the report, prompt implementation of recently adopted international instruments is necessary in order to address the problems of overcapacity, as well as of overfishing in the high seas and in areas under national jurisdiction.

States that had not yet done so should, therefore, sign, ratify, and/or implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of 1995, and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of 1995.

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The report adds that technology transfer was a key element in the attainment of sustainable development and that the sharing of scientific knowledge and, more specifically, the transfer of environmentally sound technology, including on concessional and preferential terms, were crucial instrumentalities for achieving the objectives of Agenda 21.

National efforts in developing countries to mobilize financial resources for the full and effective implementation of Agenda 21 must be supported by the international community. It was imperative that all financial recommendations and commitments of Agenda 21, including those related to the provision to the developing countries of adequate and predictable, new and additional financial resources, be implemented.

A report of the Secretary-General on protection of the atmosphere (E/CN.17/1996/22) states that there were good prospects for the involvement of developing countries in protection of stratospheric ozone and in negotiations to address global climate change. But, three major areas required attention: further assistance and encouragement for developing countries; recognition of the linkage between individual issues and an integrated approach to addressing the problems; and increased attention for sustainable resource management, in addition to avoidance or corrective measures.

The Secretary-General recommends that policies should address atmospheric protection issues on a comprehensive and resource management basis. They should address energy production and consumption and transportation and activities related to agricultural land use. One environmental problem must not be solved at the expense of another. Governments should commit to implementing regional and international agreements in a comprehensive fashion.

The report reiterates the Agenda 21 principle that countries had common but differentiated responsibilities for atmospheric protection. Policies should be adopted to increase developing country actions to protect the atmosphere. Those countries were faced with a wide range of development and environmental problems perceived as being more immediate than those related to atmospheric protection. Also, knowledge, expertise, infrastructure, or financial resources to address the issues were not available.

Priority should be given to national air quality policy within developing countries, addressing the balance between economic development and its impact on the environment and human health, the report states. There was a need for combining financial and technical assistance and local expertise with the objective of integrating environmental protection into sustainable development plans.

According to the Secretary-General, no single option for mitigating the effect of anthropogenic activities on the environment could be uniquely and universally adopted. Several options based upon new technologies would be

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needed. They should take into account the potential impact on other environmental sectors, avoiding transferred costs and securing benefits across a broader spectrum of issues. Policy instruments that promote high-quality energy services and enhance per capita income should receive the highest priority in developing countries. Efficiency improvements were particularly attractive, since they generated such multiple benefits as lower resource consumption, reduced environmental impacts and lower system costs.

A letter from Brazil and the United Kingdom transmits the report of the London Workshop on Environmental Science (E/CN.1/1996/23), which was held from 30 November to 2 December 1995. The report states that in order to achieve a better interaction between science policy formulation and regulating the marine environment, improvements were needed in prediction capability for the marine environment, knowledge of natural and anthropogenic variations, access to new technology, better assessment of changes in species and habitats, improved knowledge of links between catchment areas and the marine environment, and mechanisms for the exchange of information between States and regions.

Finally, the Commission has before it a note verbale from Japan transmitting the text of the Kyoto Declaration and Plan of Action on the Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security (E/CN.17/1996/29), which was adopted by 95 States on 9 December 1995. It declares that the States recognize and appreciate: the significant role that marine fisheries play in world food supplies; the important role of artisanal and commercial fishers; and the shortfall of world fish supplies anticipated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) by the year 2010.

The States also agree to apply the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and to base their policies on the maintenance of ecological systems, use of the best scientific evidence available, improvement in economic and social well-being and in inter- and intra-generational equity. They agree to apply the "precautionary approach" as referred to in the FAO Code, and to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity.

Signatories to the declaration agreed to the following immediate actions: assessment and monitoring of global, regional and national production of fish products; enhancement of subregional and regional fishery cooperation; assessment of fisheries with a view to ecosystem management; identification of mechanisms to reduce fishing capacity; the exchange of information regarding social, cultural and economic characteristics of fishing; and promotion of financial resources for international management programs.

They also agreed to: increase efforts to estimate the quantity of species accidentally caught by fisheries; exchange information among research institutes on fishery resources; strengthen international coordination on aquaculture and stocking; and to coordinate technical and financial assistance programmes for developing countries, particularly low-income food-deficit countries and small island developing States.

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Statement on Freshwater Assessment and Desertification Convention

BO KJELLEN (Sweden) Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification (INCD), presented a progress report on the Comprehensive Freshwater Assessment, the UNCED-related process related to the freshwater chapter of Agenda 21.

He said a steering committee on that process had begun, supported by Stockholm Environment Institute. The future report on that work will consist of: a statement explaining the need for an assessment of world freshwater resources; a description of the availability of freshwater; an investigation of current and future water needs; and strategies and options for concerted sustainable development of world freshwater resources.

Regarding desertification, he said that even before its entry into force, the Framework Convention to Combat Desertification had stimulated studies, discussion, meetings and concrete actions in many parts of the world. The Convention now had 29 ratifications. It would likely achieve 50 more by late in the summer, formally entering into force three months afterward. The "ratification profile" of the agreement was well-balanced in terms of country distribution, he said.

Progress toward the first Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention was well under way, he said. That meeting would discuss legal and institutional issues, but would also discuss a global mechanism to mobilize financial resources. In Africa, countries were now working on action programmes and some 25 national awareness seminars had been held. Seminars had been held in various regions of the world and United Nations agencies and regional organizations were making great efforts to support the Convention.

The ninth session of the INCD would take place in New York from 3 to 13 September, he said. It would focus mainly on preparations for the meeting of States parties and would hold workshops on gender issues, desertification and the implementation of local participation. The Convention was an integral part of the Rio process. It was addressing a global problem, but it was launched in and by Africa.

GUISEPPE JACOANGELI (Italy), on behalf of the European Union, said that the Union called for urgent action at the widest possible level to protect the atmosphere, human health and the environment as a whole. Special attention should be given to the application of market mechanisms to promote an environmentally sound pricing policy and competition.

It was essential that the fourth session of the Commission adopt decisions on the protection of the atmosphere which endorsed: ratification of agreements dealing with the atmosphere and climate change; the precautionary approach in

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decision-making; policy instruments which would include the elimination of environment-damaging subsidies and disincentives to efficient energy use; a package of measures set out in the Secretary-General's report on transport and industrial development; and a holistic and coordinated approach to energy issues in the United Nations system.

Regarding oceans, he said that the international community must work within the framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Three issues currently demanded a political impetus from the fourth session of the Commission: improving the working of existing international institutions in making decisions about the marine environment; following up and consolidating progress made on fisheries; and implementing the Washington global plan of action to protect the marine environment from land-based activities.

MARK G. HAMBLEY (United States) said that the Commission should oppose efforts to rewrite chapter 17 of Agenda 21 or to prejudge or duplicate consideration of issues properly dealt with in other fora. The Commission should recommend the ratification and implementation of the two fisheries treaties -- the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the FAO Compliance Agreement -- and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. States should set and implement specific objectives for the reduction of catch of non-target species, using agreed baselines and discards at the global and subregional levels.

On the atmosphere, he said that pollution from lead, particularly from the use of leaded gas, remained the leading environmental health hazard in many urban areas. Yet the health and efficiency benefits of using unleaded gasoline far outweighed the economic costs of switching from leaded to unleaded fuels. The Commission should, therefore, urge countries to shift to the use of unleaded gasoline for automobiles and other modes of transportation.

His country was involved in a series of agreements designed to address transboundary air pollution concerns. The development of transboundary air pollution regimes in other regions of the world would provide positive benefits to citizens of industrializing regions that faced growing transboundary air pollution problems.

PETER GAMMELTOFT, representative of the European Commission, said that many ideas suggested by the European Union had found their ways into the current reports before the Commission. The European Commission was ready to participate in any working group to draft the conclusions and recommendations for the Commission. The current session of the Commission was not responsible for renegotiating agreements reached earlier. The European Commission, therefore, strongly objected to any effort to divert the work of the Commission by

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attempting to reopen issues that had been resolved in past meetings. The European Commission strongly supported the role of the Commission on marine issues. However, it also recognized the role of FAO in the fisheries area.

JOHN A. FRASER (Canada) said that the international community had done well to address the many pressing ocean issues and to promote the sustainable development of the oceans through the establishment of specialized and focused mechanism. The international community must now meet its commitments. Agreements without ratification and implementation did nothing to advance the goals of ensuring the sustainability of the oceans and their resources.

He said that the Commission did not have a direct role in defining how the international fora or agreements should be implemented. It should not be used as a forum for efforts to provide interpretations of those agreements. Its role should be to provide a review mechanism where the international community could evaluate international progress on sustainable development. The international community must find the appropriate institutional means for forming a consensus on the priorities for global action on the marine environment. A periodic review by the Commission of the sustainable development of the oceans would be useful. In closing, he said that Canada intended to implement an integrated approach to coastal area management and the protection of the marine environment.

NIRMAL ANDREWS (India), said that the sustainable management of marine resources beyond national economic resources was essential. Databases should be established to assist with management of high seas fisheries.

A. SEKKAKI (Morocco) said that his Government believed very much in the importance of rural development, including rural electrification. The Commission should support the Marakesh declaration and recommendations in that regard.

SERGIO FLORENCIO (Brazil) said the entry into force of the Law of the Sea, the signing of the agreement relating to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and acknowledgement of the FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing made clear that there was global agreement on the need to implement the Law of the Sea with a view to combating pollution from land- and sea-based sources. The problem of persistent organic pollution from land-based sources should not draw attention away from such problems as sewage disposal.

The Commission should undertake a non-selective approach, addressing threats to coral reefs along with mangrove wetlands and sea-grass beds, he said. International and regional programmes should reinforce one another without engaging in unnecessary duplication. States had a responsibility to eliminate financial distortions, which lead to over-fishing. They were also obliged to help fishing communities cope with economic difficulties caused by actions taken to protect dwindling fish stocks.

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MAX RAI (Papua New Guinea), speaking on behalf of the 10 members of the South Pacific Forum, said that the international community had made tremendous progress regarding protection of ocean and sea resources. But lack of funding for global environmental agreements would cause continuing problems. There seemed to be an attempt to renegotiate several aspects of the fishstocks Agreement. The Forum did not believe that the Commission should allow any renegotiation of agreements relating to exclusive economic zones.

MEHDI DANESH-YAZDI (Iran) said that the ways and means envisaged for the protection of the atmosphere would not bear fruit if practical recommendations on the main issues of concern to developing countries continued to be left out. Such issues included the question of transferring environmentally sound technologies, new and additional financial resources, capacity- building, technical assistance, and exchange of information and experiences. Industrialized nations needed to engage in active technical cooperation with developing countries, and also to provide new and emerging technologies to them, so that they might enhance their industrial capacities for the benefit of the global environment.

JOSE MIGUEL DE LA ROSA (Philippines) said that the responsibility to reduce greenhouse emissions rested with the developed countries. Developing countries could assist in such efforts, but were under no obligation to do so. The Commission should urge the developed countries and funding institutions to provide resources to developing countries to mitigate environmental problems. Developing countries should also be granted access to the technologies they needed for such efforts.

He said that his country was giving incentives to industry to contribute to the protection of the atmosphere. The Commission should encourage financial institutions to provide resources to developing countries to assist their efforts at protecting the atmosphere. He supported the call to encourage governments to enter into transboundary agreements to control pollution. Provisions for the exchange of information and technology should be provided for in such agreements.

MOHAMED AL-SABAN (Saudi Arabia) said that the Commission should not attempt to duplicate work already being undertaken under other United Nations bodies. Such duplication might lead to unnecessary renegotiation. His country was concerned about the imbalanced treatment being given to the different sections of chapter nine of Agenda 21. All problems and causes under the chapter should be treated equally. He recommended that the principle of cost-effectiveness be made clear in any recommendation to be adopted by the Commission. That would help to avoid misconduct. The recommendations contained in the documents before the Commission seemed to emphasize the responsibility for the developing countries. It should be made clear that there should be differentiated responsibility.

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ERNESTO GUHL NANNETTI (Colombia) said that the failure of developed countries to comply with their obligations regarding financial support for the implementation of Agenda 21 was a major problem. Colombia could not dedicate additional resources to the preservation of its coastal areas. While his Government supported the elaboration of legally-binding agreements related to persistent organic pollutants, he believed that what was needed was a more comprehensive balance and a non-selective approach to protecting marine resources.

Bearing in mind the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, developed countries should seek to reduce the emission of pollution into the atmosphere. Great urban areas were the primary sources of air pollution from transportation systems. In addition to technological advances, strategies were needed to reduce the pressure placed on transportation by optimizing the efficiency of transport systems. In that regard, developed countries must provide financial support and new technology on concessional and preferential terms.

Ms. BRAVO (Venezuela) said that the Commission should continue evaluating international compliance with Agenda 21 guidelines. In that regard, it should avoid duplication with the work of other agencies of the United Nations system. Venezuela had made major attempts to reduce atmospheric emissions by encouraging the use of alternative fuels and by eliminating lead from gasoline.

YOUNGTU OH (Republic of Korea) said that considerable progress had been made in protection of the marine environment through the adoption of international agreements. Her Government was committed to implementing the global plan of action for land-based sources of marine pollution. But developing countries would be hard-pressed to implement the plan without financial assistance and technology transfer.

Urban air pollution attributable to the transport sector was growing, she said. States should endeavor to use alternative fuels and implement action plans to increase efficiency. International organizations should take the lead in coordinating cooperation at the regional and global levels.

MONICA LOCHER (Switzerland) said that the Commission should state clearly that human activities were affecting the global climate and that reductions in emissions were called for. Subsidies which lead to inefficient use of energy should be eliminated. Tradeable carbon permits and the use of alternative fuels should be encouraged. Simple instruments that could obtain broad agreement should be encouraged, such as global energy efficiency standards for vehicles and buildings and eco-labeling of appliances and products.

She said the environmental costs of all kinds of transportation systems should be internalized. Incentives to transfer traffic from trucks and

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automobiles to trains and other mass-transit should be put into place. It was essential that the international community take action against the illegal international traffic in ozone-depleting substances. Long-range transboundary pollution was another critical area of concern. Air pollution must be reduced globally.

JOANNE DISANO (Australia) expressed concerns regarding the implementation plan prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the global plan of action for preventing the further degradation of the marine environment. Any text on living marine resources must reflect the wider ambit of the Commission's work. Any final text must also reflect the context of the such instruments as the Code of Conduct prepared by the FAO. The Commission played an important role in monitoring the protection of the atmosphere. However, substantive global change issues would be most appropriately dealt with under the existing fora or instruments.

DAVID BARTLE (New Zealand) said that last year's adoption of the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of the Provisions of the Convention on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks marked a watershed in the development of international agreements aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of high seas fisheries. That texts's emphasis on the mandatory application of the precautionary principle to conservation and management decisions had been welcome and long overdue.

He urged the Commission to encourage all States to implement the fish stocks Agreement. The Commission should make clear that the Agreement applied to the conservation and management of fish stocks beyond areas of national jurisdiction, and was to be applied in a manner consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

MANUELA FALCAO (Portugal), summarizing aspects of the Lisbon Declaration, which was adopted at the Second Conference of Oceanography, held in Lisbon from 14 to 19 November 1994, said that the Commission should bear in mind the importance of the sea/land interface, as well as the biodiversity of coastal zones and their sensitivity to anthropogenic and climate change. An integrated approach to the management of coastal zones could lead to harmoniously integrated geomorphological and bio-ecological values resulting from human activities, bringing about a better global equilibrium. Portugal proposed the creation of mechanisms to enhance communities' and governments' involvement of programmatic principles derived from United Nations Conventions, including the Law of the Sea.

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SUPHAVIT PIAMPONGSANT (Thailand) said that his Government agreed on the necessity for cooperation between coastal States and fishing nations as regards the conservation of fish stocks and the preservation of non-target species. Such conservation programmes must take place subject to the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, particularly as it relates to the sovereign rights of coastal States over their maritime zones.

In Thailand, he said marine fisheries faced difficulties due to the nature of its territory, inadequate knowledge, over-capitalization, over-fishing and excess fishing capacity. In response, his Government was attempting to: rehabilitate fish populations; reduce excessive fishing; minimize by-catches; minimize the environmental impacts of coastal aquaculture practices; and responsibly manage joint venture fisheries. He urged governments not to undertake unilateral action concerning the trade in fishery products. Environmental conservation requirements must not constitute a disguised restriction on international trade.

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