ENB:07:08 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

---

HIGH SEAS FISHERIES CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: TUESDAY, 20 JULY 1993

The Plenary did not meet on Tuesday so that the Chair, Satya Nandan, could convene informal consultations on data requirements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks. This smaller meeting was held in a conference room more conducive to frank face-to-face negotiations.

During a meeting with a small group of NGOs before the session, Nandan and the NGOs agreed that two NGO representatives would be allowed to observe the informal sessions. At this meeting, Nandan said that it was his objective to begin drafting text to be later submitted to the Plenary. He explained that in order to have a manageable working group, he requested all participants, including the Secretariat, to limit their numbers. This method of work is similar to that adopted during the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.

During Tuesday's informal session, Nandan distributed a discussion paper containing the following five subheadings: fishery data collection; basic fishery data requirements; vessel data and information; data reporting and verification; and data exchange.