United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement

United Nations Agreement on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (commonly called the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, or UNSFA) came into force in 1995. Canada played a leading role in the development of this agreement, which elaborates on provisions under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. UNFSA provides the framework for the conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks in high seas areas regulated by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs).

The legal instrument:

• Sets out the role of RFMOs in scientific research, stock assessment, monitoring, surveillance and control.
• Requires the application of the precautionary approach and ecosystem-based management.
• Reiterates the obligation of States to control the fishing activities of their vessels in international waters and specifies the need to minimize pollution, waste and discards of fish.
• Gives States the right to monitor and inspect vessels of other State parties to verify compliance with internationally agreed fishing rules.
• Provides a binding dispute settlement mechanism to resolve conflicts.