The United Nations and fisheries in 1998

Abstract

This article discusses the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea and one of its implementing agreements, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. It considers problems, opportunities, and key principles that have emerged in recent international negotiations on fisheries. It notes that the large number of international fora that deal with fisheries encourage lack of focus and inefficient decision making. The article suggests that the UN General Assembly's annual ocean debate could play a critical role in addressing these problems.