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Oceans and the Law of the Sea in the General Assembly of the United Nations

Reports of the Secretary-General




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Oceans and Law of the Sea: Reports of the Secretary-General

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol Languages
2024 79th session A/79/340

Advance and unedited reporting material
2024 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly
2024 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024
2024 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024) (pending)
2024 79th session A/79/68

2023 78th session A/78/339

Advance and unedited reporting material
2023 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly
2023 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
2023 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2022 - 31 July 2023)
2023 78th session A/78/67

2022 77th session A/77/331

Advance and unedited reporting material
2022 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly
2022 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022
2022 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2021 - 31 July 2022)
2022 77th session A/77/68

2021 76th session A/76/311

2021 76th session A/76/311/ADD.1

2021 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly
2021 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021
2021 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division (1 August 2020 - 31 July 2021)
2020 75th session A/75/340

2020 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly
2020 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020
2020 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division (1 August 2019 - 31 July 2020)
2020 75th session A/75/70

2020 Full texts of contributions from Member States, United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on the topic of focus of the twenty first-meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
2019 74th session A/74/350

2019 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly
2019 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019
2019 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division (1 August 2018 - 31 July 2019)
2019 74th session

2019 Full texts of contributions from Member States, United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on the topic of focus of the twentieth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea
2018 73rd session
(Advance and unedited reporting material)
2018 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-third session of the General Assembly
2018 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018
2018 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2017 - 31 July 2018)
2018 73rd session
2018 (New)
2017 72nd session

2017 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017
2017 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2016 - 31 July 2017)
2017 72nd session
2017 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-second session of the General Assembly
2016 71st session
2016 Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea list of activities from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016
2016 Status of voluntary trust funds administered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (1 August 2015 - 31 July 2016)
2016 71st session A/71/74
2016 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventy-first session of the General Assembly
2015 70th session A/70/74/Add.1
2015 70th session A/70/74
2015 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the seventieth session of the General Assembly
2014 69th session A/69/71/Add.1
2014 69th session A/69/71
2014 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly
2013 68th session A/68/71/Add.1/Corr.1
2013 68th session A/68/71/Add.1
2013 68th session A/68/71
2013 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly
2012 67th session A/67/79/Add.2
2012 67th session A/67/79/Add.1
2012 67th session A/67/79/Corr.1
2012 67th session A/67/79
2012 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to the Report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the 67th session of the General Assembly
2011 66th session A/66/70/Add.2
2011 66th session A/66/70/Add.1
2011 66th session A/66/70
2010 65th session A/65/69/Add.2
2010 65th session A/65/69/Add.1
2010 65th session A/65/69
2009 64th session A/64/66/Add.2
2009 64th session A/64/66/Add.1
2009 64th session A/64/66
2008 63rd session A/63/63/Add.1
2008 63rd session A/63/63
2007 62nd session A/62/66/Add.2
2007 62nd session A/62/66/Add.1
2007 62nd session A/62/66
2006 61st session   A/61/63/Add.1
2006 61st session A/61/63
2005 60th session A/60/63/Add.2 (oceans and the law of the sea)
2005 60th session A/60/63/Add.1 (conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity)
2005 60th session A/60/63
2004 59th session A/59/62/Add.1
2004 59th session A/59/62
2004 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to the Report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the 59th session of the General Assembly
2003 58th session A/58/65/Add.1
2003 58th session A/58/65
2003 Full texts of contributions from United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies as well as other intergovernmental organizations to the Report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea to the 58th session of the General Assembly
2002 57th session A/57/57/Add.1
2002 57th session A/57/57 * *
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2001 56th session A/56/58/Add.1
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2001 56th session A/56/58 (pdf, 1300Kb) *
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2000 55th session A/55/61
1999 54th session A/54/429
1998 53rd session A/53/456
1997 52nd session A/52/487
A/52/487/Corr.1

Law of the Sea: Reports of the Secretary-General *

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
1996 51st session A/51/645
A/51/645/Add. 1
A/51/645/Add. 2
1995 50th session A/50/713
A/50/713/Corr.1
1994

49th session

A/49/631 *
*
A/49/631/Corr.1

Special reports

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document

Languages
2006 61st session A/61/65 - Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction
2005 60th session A/60/91 - A regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects
2004 59th session A/59/126 - A regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects: Global Marine Assessment International Workshop
2004 59th session A/59/63 - Oceans and the law of the sea: Consultative Group on Flag State Implementation
2005 59th session A/59/63/Corr.1 - Oceans and the law of the sea: Consultative Group on Flag State Implementation - Corrigendum
2003 58th session A/58/423 - Oceans and the law of the sea: A regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment: proposals on modalities

1997 52nd session A/52/491 - Impact of the entry into force of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea on related existing and proposed instruments and programmes

1992 47th session A/47/512 - Law of the Sea: Progress made in the implementation of the comprehensive legal regime embodied in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (Report of the Secretary-General) English Français Español
1991 46th session A/46/722 - Law of the Sea: Realization of benefits under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Measures undertaken in response to needs of States in regard to development and management of ocean resources, and approaches for further action (Report of the Secretary-General) * * *
*
1990 45th session A/45/712 - Law of the Sea: Realization of benefits under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Needs of States in regard to development and management of ocean resources (Report of the Secretary-General) * * *
1990 45th session A/45/563 - Law of the Sea: Marine scientific research (Report of the Secretary-General) * * *
1989 44th session A/44/461 - Law of the Sea: Protection and preservation of the marine environment (Report of the Secretary-General)  * Français* Español*
Arabic* Chinese* Russian*
Corrigendum A/44/461/Corr.1. Français* Español

 

 

Reports on fisheries issues *

Actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in response to paragraphs 113, 117 and 119 to 124 of General Assembly resolution 64/72, paragraphs 121, 126, 129, 130 and 132 to 134 of General Assembly resolution 66/68 and paragraphs 156, 171, 175, 177 to 188 and 219 of General Assembly resolution 71/123 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks

2020 75th session A/75/157

Actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in response to paragraphs 113, 117 and 119 to 124 of General Assembly resolution 64/72 and paragraphs 121, 126, 129, 130 and 132 to 134 of General Assembly resolution 66/68 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks

2016 71st session A/71/351

Actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in response to paragraphs 80 and 83 to 87 of General Assembly resolution 61/105 and paragraphs 113 to 117 and 119 to 127 of General Assembly resolution 64/72 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks

2011 66th session A/66/307

Actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 83 to 90 of General Assembly resolution 61/105 on sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 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, and related instruments

2009 64th session A/64/305

Full texts of contributions from States to the report of the Secretary-General on actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 83 to 90 of General Assembly resolution 61/105 of 8 December 2006 on Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 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, and related instruments


The Impacts of Fishing on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems: Actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of General Assembly resolution 59/25 on sustainable fisheries, regarding the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems

2006 61st session A/61/154

Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 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, and related instruments

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
2012 67th session A/67/315
2012 Full texts of contributions from Member States and entities, United Nations agencies, programmes and bodies, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to the report of the Secretary-General on sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 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, and related instruments
2008 63rd session A/63/128
2007 62nd session A/62/260
2005 60th session A/60/189
2004 59th session A/59/298

The status and implementation of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the Fish Stocks Agreement) and its impact on related or proposed instruments throughout the United Nations system, with special reference to implementation of Part VII of the Fish Stocks Agreement, dealing with the requirements of developing States

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
2003 58th session A/58/215

Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
2002 57th session A/57/459

2000

55th session A/55/386
1998 53rd session A/53/473
1997 52nd session A/52/557
1996 51st session A/51/404
Driftnet fishing
Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
1995 50th session A/50/553
1994 49th session A/49/469
Unauthorized fishing in zones under national jurisdiction
Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
1995 50th session A/50/549
Impact of fisheries by-catch and discards
Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
1995 50th session A/50/552

Oceans and Law of the Sea: 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

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
2001 56th session A/56/357

1999

54th session A/54/461

1997

52nd session A/52/555

1996

51st session A/51/383

1995

50th session A/50/550 Environment and sustainable development: sustainable use and conservation of the marine living resources of the high seas: United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (Report of the Secretary-General)

1994

49th session A/49/522 - Environment and sustainable development: sustainable use and conservation of the marine living resources of the high seas: United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (Report of the Secretary-General) (pdf, 2000Kb) * * *
* * *

1993

48th session A/48/479 - Implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: sustainable use and conservation of the marine living resources of the high seas: United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (Report of the Secretary-General) (pdf, 2000Kb) * * *
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Corrigendum A/48/479/Corr.1

Report on consultations on outstanding issues relating to deep seabed mining

Year

Session of the General Assembly

Document symbol

Languages
1994 48th session A/48/950 - Law of the Sea: Consultations of the Secretary-General on outstanding issues relating to the deep seabed mining provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Report of the Secretary-General)

About the reports

  The annual reports of the Secretary-General on the law of the sea have provided the General Assembly since 1984 with a comprehensive overview of developments relating to the law of the sea. These reports on the law of the sea have been complemented periodically by Special Reports on specific topics of current interest, e.g., marine environment, marine scientific research, needs of States, progress made in the implementation of the comprehensive legal regime embodied in the Convention, etc.

In his current annual reports on oceans and the law of the sea, under the expanded mandate contained in General Assembly resolution 51/34 of 9 December 1996, the Secretary-General provides a comprehensive overview of all developments pertaining to oceans and the law of the sea, in particular the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including activities of the institutions established by the Convention. The reports also serve as reports on the work of the Organization, and of the United Nations system as a whole, in the field of ocean affairs.

 The General Assembly first explicitly confirmed its role as the global forum competent to review overall developments relating to the law of the sea in resolution A/RES/49/28 adopted in December 1994, following the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

    In addition to general information concerning the conservation and management of living marine resources contained it these annual reports, the Secretary-General prepares separate reports on particular issues relating to fisheries.

Since 1990, the Secretary-General has been reporting on "Large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas".

Until 1994,reports on fisheries issues  were considered by the Second Committee of the General-Assembly under the agenda item "Environment and sustainable development". As from 1995, those reports have been considered directly by the General Assembly under the agenda item "Oceans and the law of the sea".

The first report on "Fisheries by-catch and discards and their impact on the sustainable use of the world's living marine resources"  was transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly in 1995. That report had been prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In addition, the Secretary-General provided his first report on the question of "Unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and its impact on the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas".

In 1996, the Secretary-General began issuing a consolidated report on the issues of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing; unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction; and fisheries by-catch and discards. Prior to 1996, fisheries issues were addressed in separate reports.