05 Oct
2006 - WWF urges the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) meeting in New York this week to take a
key step to protect all deep sea ecosystems from
destructive fishing practices, such as unmanaged
high seas bottom trawling.
The 192-member UNGA is due to
debate an Australian-led plan to prohibit deep
sea bottom trawling in unmanaged areas of the
high seas and impose tougher regulations of other
destructive fishing practices. About 64 per cent
of the world's ocean is in international waters,
and bottom trawling is unmanaged in about three-quarters
of this area.
WWF applauds Palau and Australia’s
continuing efforts to push for deep sea protection,
and urges other states to join Australia in seeking
the consensus necessary to effectively suspend
unmanaged bottom trawling on the high seas. WWF
welcomes the recent decision of the US to become
a strong advocate of the need to protect sensitive
ecosystems from destructive fishing practices.
However, WWF remains concerned
that some countries appear reluctant to join this
emerging consensus. In particular, the European
Union proposal falls short of suggesting practically
achievable measures to curb destructive fishing
practices, and places European fisheries management
well behind the forerunners in the field.
The weak EU proposal only calls
for a prohibition on areas known to be sensitive,
thus going against the EU’s own commitments to
a sensible precautionary approach, and leaving
the vast majority of sensitive areas - for which
there is not yet information - open to destruction.
WWF supports moves to regulate
all destructive fishing practices in all high
seas areas to prevent significant harm to sensitive
species, habitats and ecosystems and would support
interim prohibitions until adequate management
controls are in place
WWF therefore calls for an interim
moratorium on bottom trawling in all areas not
covered by RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management
Organisations). This prohibition would only be
lifted in areas where an adequate management structure
is shown to be in place, as consistent with the
precautionary principle.
WWF argues that all RFMOs –
the main mechanism developed by States to regulate
fishing on the high seas – should be reformed
so that their mandate covers a more holistic ecosystem-based
management approach and gives them the full power
to manage fish stocks effectively.
This week’s negotiations will
determine the oceans and fisheries resolution
adopted by the UNGA in November. Too many areas
have already been decimated and if the international
community does not act now to protect what is
left, it will soon be too late.
Sarah Bladen, Communications Manager
