Convention Text

Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Convention Area Map (298.1 KB)

After four years of complex negotiations between the coastal States of the Western and Central Pacific and States fishing in that region, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean was opened for signature at Honolulu on 5 September 2000. The Convention is one of the first regional fisheries agreements to be adopted since the conclusion in 1995 of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement.

The objective of the Convention is to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement. For this purpose, the Convention establishes a Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The Contracting Parties to the Convention are, ipso facto, members of the Commission.

The Convention applies to all species of highly migratory fish stocks (defined as all fish stocks of the species listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention occurring in the Convention Area and such other species of fish as the Commission may determine ) within the Convention Area, except sauries. Conservation and management measures under the Convention are to be applied throughout the range of the stocks, or to specific areas within the Convention Area, as determined by the Commission.

The Convention Area is defined in article 3 of the Convention and comprises all waters of the Pacific Ocean bounded to the south and to the east by a line drawn from the south coast of Australia due south along the 141° meridian of east longitude to its intersection with the 55° parallel of south latitude; thence due east along the 55° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 150° meridian of east longitude; thence due south along the 150° meridian of east longitude to its intersection with the 60° parallel of south latitude; thence due east along the 60° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 130° meridian of west longitude; thence due north along the 130° meridian of west longitude to its intersection with the 4° parallel of south latitude; thence due west along the 4° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 150° meridian of west longitude; thence due north along the 150° meridian of west longitude.

The Convention was open for signature for 12 months from 5 September 2000 by the States that participated in the Multilateral High-Level Conference on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific, namely: Australia, Canada, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, United States of America and Republic of Vanuatu. The depositary for the Convention is the Government of New Zealand.

In accordance with the provisions of its article 36, the Convention entered into force on 19 June 2004, that is six months after the deposit of the thirteenth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. As at November 2004, the following States had ratified or acceded to the Convention; Australia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Korea, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.

The Convention also contains special arrangements for participation by fishing entities and by territories situated within the Convention Area. On 5 September 2000, Chinese Taipei signed the Arrangement for the Participation of Fishing Entities. On 2 November 2004, in accordance with that Arrangement, Chinese Taipei informed the depositary that it had fulfilled its domestic requirements and that it agreed to be bound by the regime established by the Convention in accordance with its article 9, paragraph 2 and to participate as a member in the Commission. On 19 December 2003, New Zealand advised that, in accordance with article 43, Tokelau is authorized to participate in the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 35, the Convention shall remain open for accession by the States referred to in article 34, paragraph 1, and by any entity referred to in article 305, paragraph 1(c), (d) and (e) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which is situated in the Convention Area. The Contracting Parties may, by consensus, invite other States and regional economic integration organizations, whose nationals and fishing vessels wish to conduct fishing for highly migratory fish stocks in the Convention Area to accede to the Convention.

Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (84.12 KB)

Final Act of the Multilateral High-Level Conference on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific (26.85 KB)

Resolution I establishing a Preparatory Conference for the Establishment of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. (45.14 KB)

Resolution II expressing gratitude to the Governments of the Solomon Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Japan and the United States of America. (6.78 KB)

Arrangement for the Participation of Fishing Entities (14.18 KB)

The depositary, New Zealand, provide an update on the status of the convention as a working paper to the Commission meeting each year.