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IN THE CORRIDORS

The Informal Contact Group on Oceans met again on Wednesday to discuss Annex II of the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Sectoral Issues. Some believed that the split between groups of countries that appeared in the negotiations on the Straddling Stocks Agreement reappeared (a division between coastal countries and those that fish on the high seas). A few countries suggested that paragraph 32 of Annex II (which references recent agreements, including the FAO Code of Conduct, the Flagging Agreement and the Straddling Stocks Agreement) provided a good basis to continue negotiations. Others desired to shorten Annex II and focus it on ratification of the new agreements. The Chair will conduct informal consultations, and the group will meet again Thursday.