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ENB:07:16 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

REGIONAL AND SUBREGIONAL COOPERATION:

The US supported the formation of organizations or bodies for the establishment of conservation regimes in specific geographic regions. Sweden, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and Trinidad and Tobago agreed that close cooperation between all States has to be institutionalized, and management must not be ad hoc but ongoing. To give these regional and subregional organizations the necessary strength, they should have compulsory membership, firm international structures and financing from member States.

A number of delegates, including the Philippines, the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka, said that regional cooperation is the most adequate and appropriate way to resolve practical problems of conservation. Regional cooperation might be geographic or established along the range of the migratory species. Gabon warned against the proliferation of regional and subregional organizations. Tunisia, Sri Lanka and Argentina said that existing organizations need to be strengthened.

With regard to financing these organizations, Sierra Leone said in its position paper that the coastal States should be allowed to collect license fees from vessels fishing in the high seas adjacent to their EEZs. These fees could then be given to the regional bodies. The EC said a share of financing can be based on a combination of catch figures and correcting GNP figures. Some also said financing should be based on per capita rather than GNP.