ENB:03:04
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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.