In November 2022, the Office of Legal Affairs launched, through its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (Division), a three-year global capacity-building project to assist States in improving the management of global fish stocks by strengthening participation in and implementation of 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 (“United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement” or “UNFSA”). The effective implementation of this Agreement is critical for the long-term sustainability of the world fish stocks, as it provides an international legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including the most commercially significant high seas stocks. Its full and effective implementation is also central to the achievement of the international community’s sustainable development commitments, including SDG 14.
The UNFSA Project of Assistance is funded by the European Union through a contribution to the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement, administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project is implemented by the Division, in cooperation with FAO, regional fisheries management organizations and other partners.
Through activities at the global, regional and national levels, the Project will: (1) increase awareness of the importance of UNFSA and its full and effective implementation amongst relevant stakeholders; (2) improve the understanding of the provisions of UNFSA with a view to strengthening their implementation at the global and regional levels; and (3) build the capacity of developing States Parties to implement UNFSA through bilateral technical assistance.
More information on assistance available through this project, including informational materials and guides can be found on: /oceancapacity/UNFSA.