20th Anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS and World Oceans Day Twenty-fourth Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS

 

 

20^th Anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS and

World Oceans Day

Twenty-fourth Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS

9 June 2014

Celebratory remarks by

Ms. Sharon Brennen-Haylock
Director, FAO Liaison Office with the UN

 

 

Mr. President,

 

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It is an honour to join you in the commemoration of the 20^th Anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and World Oceans Day.

 

I am pleased to report that today, the Chairperson of the FAO Committee on Fisheries will also make commemorative remarks for this occasion in Rome.

 

Today is an opportunity to highlight and raise global awareness on the current opportunities and widespread challenges faced by the international community to ensure the sustainable development of our oceans while considering how to feed a growing world population.

 

Oceans cover 70 percent of our planet – they play a key role in the global life-support system, supplying half of our oxygen. People are consuming more fish now than ever before – up from about 10 kg per person 50 years ago to an average of 19.2 kg today. Fish is rich in proteins, essential fatty acids and micronutrients and contributes significantly to food security, nutrition and human health.

 

This sector, while providing 58 million direct employment opportunities in fishing, fishing processing and fish farming, generates 200 million direct and indirect jobs in associated sectors, and also supports the livelihoods of about 12% of the global population. It is then clear why oceans are a major driver for global economic growth, offering prospects for livelihood and prosperity for millions of people around the world.

 

Unfortunately, the oceans are under stress from multiple adverse impacts and effects such as over-exploitation of resources, pollution, habitat degradation, declining biodiversity, expansion of invasive species, climate change and ocean acidification. Of FAO assessed stocks, the share of marine fish stocks that are overfished has alarmingly increased from 10% in 1970 to nearly one third in 2011. Fully-fished stocks – that is, fished within biologically sustainable levels, accounted for 70 percent.

 

The estimated potential economic gain from reducing fishing capacity and restoring fish stocks is in the order of 50 billion USD per year. Landings from Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing are estimated at 15 to 20 million tons a year. In addition to this, fishing continues to be one of, if not the most hazardous occupations in the world, leading to over 24,000 deaths annually, mainly on board small fishing vessels.

 

We must strive for sustainable ocean management and ocean governance to turn back the tide on overfishing and habitat degradation even as we deal with such issues as the impact of climate change and maritime safety and security, which we are also trying to address through new global actions and commitments.

 

Additional concerns have certainly arisen since the adoption of the Convention. Nonetheless, the Convention has the capacity to adapt to current and future challenges. Indeed, the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference, “The Future We Want”, recognizes the importance of the legal framework provided by the Convention in achieving the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources.

 

 

The progressive development of the law of the sea achieved through the Convention and related instruments is meant to contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security, equitable and efficient utilization of ocean resources, protection and preservation of the marine environment and the realization of a just and equitable economic order which take into account the interests and needs of humankind as a whole. Yet, today our oceans are at risk from the numerous threats that are comprising their ability to continue providing vital ecosystem services and essential food resources.

 

FAO is working towards this with its Blue Growth Initiative and by actively supporting the implementation of the Convention and its related instruments, especially by promoting sustainable fisheries through its binding and non binding instruments, such as: the Code of Conduct for Responsable Fisheries, the FAO International Plans of Action and the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

 

The theme of this year’s World Oceans Day: “Ocean Sustainability: Together let's ensure oceans can sustain us into the future", emphasizes our individual and collective responsibility to protect the marine environment and manage its resources in a sustainable manner, for both present and future generations. Stronger political will, together with necessary national, regional and global commitments, is essential to ensure the sustainable use of our oceans. Appropriate implementation will create the conditions to achieve sustainable development objectives set by the international community as well as the new ones that will be established through the post-2015 development agenda.

 

 

FAO has been supporting the Post 2015 process by contributing directly to high-level thematic consultations and providing technical advice to Member States as requested,.on targets and indicators related to food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, sustainable development, natural resources, biodiversity, and climate change.

 

Mr. President 

 

Let me conclude by reiterating that the Convention, often referred to as the “Consitution of the Oceans”, has served in guaranteeing the sustainable use of the oceans by humankind over the past decades. In tackling the challenges mentioned, we believe the prominent role that the Convention has played to date will continue to grow in the future.

 

Thank you for your attention.