Johannesburg Summit Calls For Restoration of Fisheries by 2015
Johannesburg, 28 August - A provision calling for restoration of depleted
fisheries not later than 2015 was agreed to by negotiators at the World
Summit on Sustainable Development yesterday.
The agreement was the last in a series of provisions that recognizes that
the world's oceans and fisheries are in trouble and need urgent attention.
United Nations studies have shown that three-quarters of the world's
fisheries are presently fished to their sustainable levels or beyond.
A breakthrough, the agreement on the target marks a major commitment that
requires countries to marshal resources and political will to ensure the
responsible management of fisheries.
"This agreement provides us with the crucial underpinning for government
action," according to Johannesburg Summit Secretary-General Nitin Desai.
"Overfishing cannot continue. The depletion of fisheries poses a major
threat to the food supply of millions of people. This agreement recognizes
that we need coordinated action between governments on an urgent basis to manage
the oceans responsibly, to meet the needs of people now and in the future."
Desai added that it was absolutely necessary that government commitments to
implement sustainable fishing be complemented through partnerships by and
between governments, fishermen, communities , and industry. "We have no
choice but to work together on this," he said.
In addition, agreement was reached on a provision that calls on countries
to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other conventions that
promote maritime safety and protect the environment from marine pollution
and environmental damage by ships.
Agreement was also reached on a text that asks regional fisheries
management organizations to consider the needs of developing countries when
allocating fish quotas. Developing countries have maintained that existing
fisheries regimes do not reflect their interests. United Nations
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