The States Parties to this Agreement,
Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea of 10 December 1982,
Determined to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of straddling
fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks,
Resolved to improve cooperation between States to that end,
Calling for more effective enforcement by flag States, port States and coastal States
of the conservation and management measures adopted for such stocks,
Seeking to address in particular the problems identified in chapter 17, programme
area C, of Agenda 21 adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
namely, that the management of high seas fisheries is inadequate in many areas and
that some resources are overutilized; noting that there are problems of unregulated
fishing, over-capitalization, excessive fleet size, vessel reflagging to escape controls,
insufficiently selective gear, unreliable databases and lack of sufficient cooperation
between States,
Committing themselves to responsible fisheries,
Conscious of the need to avoid adverse impacts on the marine environment, preserve
biodiversity, maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems and minimize the risk of
long-term or irreversible effects of fishing operations,
Recognizing the need for specific assistance, including financial, scientific and
technological assistance, in order that developing States can participate effectively
in the conservation, management and sustainable use of straddling fish stocks and
highly migratory fish stocks,
Convinced that an agreement for the implementation of the relevant provisions of the
Convention would best serve these purposes and contribute to the maintenance of international
peace and security,
Affirming that matters not regulated by the Convention or by this Agreement continue to be governed by the rules and principles of general
international law,
Have agreed as follows: