United Nations General Assembly Adopts Draft Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries, Underscoring Threats of Sea-Level Rise, Loss of Marine Biodiversity, Marine Debris

https://press.un.org/en/2022/ga12480.doc.htm

SATYENDRA PRASAD (Fiji), speaking for the Pacific Islands Forum, stressed that oceanic peoples depend on the ocean as the greatest source of nourishment, livelihood, identity and economic prosperity. The ocean covers 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, absorbs 30 per cent of global CO2 emissions as well as over 90 per cent of heat from global warming and produces over 70 per cent of the earth’s oxygen. He drew attention to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which recognizes climate change as the single greatest threat to oceanic peoples’ livelihoods, sovereignty, and existence. Warning against a climate emergency in the Pacific region, he stressed the need to ensure ocean protection and conservation. Further, he pointed to the Pacific Islands Forum landmark Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change-Related Sea-level Rise and stressed the importance of concluding negotiations on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty in February 2023. He also commended establishment of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to draw up a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.Speaking in his national capacity, associating with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Pacific Islands Forum, he welcomed the well-balanced text in the omnibus “L.36” resolution, which considers specific references to small island developing States’ capacity-building and marine technology transfer. The impacts of climate change are most felt by those States that are most vulnerable to sea-level rise, through forced displacement, migration, loss of cultural identity, threat to marine biodiversity, adverse impacts on aquatic food supply chains, including tuna stocks and the devastating impact on artisanal fisheries as sources of livelihood for countless millions. For Fiji, the vital role that tuna stocks will eventually play in ensuring food security is based on the premise of good sustainability practices that must begin now, he asserted.

MITCHELL FIFIELD (Australia) recognized the importance of First Nations Australians’ connection to land and waters, emphasizing the immense contribution they can make to addressing climate change and the health of oceans. Australia does not accept maritime claims that are inconsistent with the Convention, he said, adding that general international law does not replace that instrument in any way. He reiterated Australia’s concerns about destabilizing actions and serious incidents in the South China Sea, maintaining that any maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, particularly the Convention. The conclusion of an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction is a key part of Australia’s commitment to protecting the marine environment, he said, adding that, as a member of the Pacific family, Australia encourages other States to support the interpretation of the Convention contained in the Pacific Islands Forum’s Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change, which recognizes that principles that underpin the Convention are relevant to sea-level rise and climate change.

KENNETH WELLES (Federated States of Micronesia) stressed that deep seabed mining in the international seabed area should not occur until the precautionary principle, ecosystem approach and the polluter pays principle have been implemented. In the international seabed area, no such implementation can take place in the absence of the finalization of a comprehensive set of exploitation regulations by the International Seabed Authority. His country has some of the largest fishing grounds in the Pacific, covering an area of 1.1 million square miles, and one of the most productive tuna fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific. Its maritime zones are exposed to the threats of transnational crimes and illegal activities, he cautioned, calling for support in capacity-building efforts towards law enforcement in the areas of maritime surveillance and combating terrorist financing and drug trafficking. Regarding nuclear contamination to the health and security of the Blue Pacific and its people, he voiced concern about the decision to discharge the Advanced Liquid Processing System treated water, that had suffered nuclear contamination, into the ocean starting from 2023. The impacts of this decision are both transboundary and intergenerational in nature, he asserted.

CAROLYN SCHWALGER (New Zealand) highlighted significant progress made this year towards a new agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Stressing the need to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects of any activities in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction, she called for a conditional moratorium on deep-sea mining in the area until regulations can be agreed that ensure the effective protection of the marine environment. Despite progress, uneven implementation of bottom fishing commitments remains an issue, she cautioned, encouraging States to overcome barriers to implementation of the 2022 sustainable fisheries resolution. Sea-level rise and climate change pose grave threats to small island developing States and low-lying communities around the world, especially in the Pacific region. In this context, she reiterated her country’s commitment to ensuring that the maritime rights that many States rely on are preserved.

MARGO REMINISSE DEIYE (Nauru) aligning with the Alliance of Small Island States and the Pacific Islands Forum said her country highly depends on marine resources for food security and economic development. She called for a legally binding instrument under Convention on the use of marine biological diversity to establish cross-sectoral marine protected areas, maintain global ocean health, recognize the special relationship of small islands to the ocean and outline rules for fair and equitable benefits sharing. Highlighting the International Seabed Authority’s work, she welcomed approaches to development of normative environmental threshold values, calling on its States members to finalize and adopt a regime for responsible collection of seafloor minerals, while ensuring environmental protection. Further, she hailed the agreement brokered with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on fisheries.

ILANA VICTORYA SEID (Palau), associating herself with the Alliance of Small Island States and Pacific Island Forum, recalled that her country co-hosted with the United States the seventh “Our Ocean Conference” and raised over $16 million in commitments for oceans. Pointing out that Palau’s marine life and wildlife is under threat, she urged States to resolve the issue of plastic pollution globally. Recognizing that no sustainable solution is possible without incorporating management and rules in the high seas, she urged all parties to conclude the text of the treaty on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Underscoring the importance of sustaining resources in high seas that are still intact, she said that Palau is a champion of the moratorium on deep sea mining. She, thus, encouraged States to enact a reform of the International Seabed Authority and international regulations before allowing any States to contract for deep sea mining projects.