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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:

Amb. Annette des Iles spoke on behalf of the 12 member States of the Caribbean Community with regard to the Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Notwithstanding the broad provisions for cooperation in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, high seas fishing has become one of the most pressing marine environmental issues on the international agenda as excessive fishing on a global scale threatens the sustainability of many fisheries. In the Caribbean artisanal fishing is a way of life and the fisheries industry is an important sub-sector in the region's economies. Caricom was encouraged by the progress made during the first substantive session of the Conference, including agreement to work within the framework of the Law of the Sea, to harmonize management regimes inside and outside areas of national jurisdiction, and to embrace the emerging regional and sub-regional approaches to cooperation in the management of marine resources. There can be no effective global network to preserve fisheries resources without the full participation of developing countries, however, a substantial enhancement of the capacity of many developing countries is required to achieve this goal. Caricom supports the convening of two additional sessions of the Conference in 1994 and urged that appropriate steps be taken to encourage all fishing States and coastal States to participate in the Conference.