ENB:07:40
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FISHERIES BYCATCH AND DISCARDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE WORLD"S LIVING MARINE RESOURCES
This resolution (A/C.2/49/L.50/Rev.1) was adopted by consensus by the Second Committee on 13 December 1994. Co-sponsors included: Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.
The operative paragraphs of the resolution note the important role that fisheries play in contributing to a sustainable food supply and livelihood of present and future generations. The issue of bycatch and discards in fishing operations warrants serious attention by the international community and a continued and effective response is necessary to ensure the long-term and sustainable development of fisheries. The resolution invites the FAO to formulate bycatch and discards provisions in its international code of conduct for responsible fishing, taking into account work being done elsewhere. The resolution also invites the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks to elaborate fisheries bycatch and discards provisions, taking into account work being done elsewhere. Finally, the resolution invites relevant subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and the FAO to review, within their respective competencies, the impact of fisheries bycatch and discards on the sustainable use of living marine resources.
After adoption, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and Panama said that the General Assembly is not the proper forum for dealing with this issue. This issue should be discussed by the FAO and the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Mexico said that the draft resolution does not correspond to the importance of this issue and future resolutions should be more specific with regard to measures to decrease bycatch.