Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2012

AEBAR 2012: Introduction
Table 1.2: International agreements and regional agreements to which New Zealand is a signatory, that are relevant
to the management of the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment.
International Instruments Regional Fisheries Agreements
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS). Aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian
migratory species throughout their range.
• Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
(ACAP). Aims to introduce a number of conservation measures to
reduce the threat of extinction to the Albatross and Petrel species.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Provides for
conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of
components. States accorded the right to exploit resources
pursuant to environmental policies.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Acknowledges the right to explore and exploit, conserve and
manage natural resources in the State’s EEZ…with regard to the
protection and preservation of the marine environment including
associated and dependent species, pursuant to the State’s
environmental policies.
• Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Aims to ensure that
international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten
their survival.
• United Nations Fishstocks Agreements. Aims to lay down a
comprehensive regime for the conservation and management of
straddling and highly migratory fish stocks.
• International Whaling Commission (IWC) Aims to provide for
the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible
the orderly development of the whaling industry.
• Wellington Convention Aims to prohibit drift net fishing activity
in the convention area.
• Food and Agriculture Organisation – International Plan of
Action for Seabirds (FAO-IPOA Seabirds) Voluntary
framework for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline
fisheries.
• Food and Agriculture Organisation – International Plan of
Action for Sharks (FAO –IPOA Sharks) Voluntary framework
for the conservation and management of sharks.
• Noumea Convention. Promotes protection and management of
natural resources. Parties to regulate or prohibit activity likely to
have adverse effects on species, ecosystems and biological
processes.
• Food and Agriculture Organisation - Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries Provides principles and standards
applicable to the conservation, management and development of
all fisheries, to be interpreted and applied to conform to the rights,
jurisdiction and duties of Sates contained in UNCLOS.
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• Convention for the Conservation of
Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Aims to
ensure, through appropriate management, the
conservation and optimum utilisation of the
global Southern Bluefin Tuna fishery. The
Convention specifically provides for the
exchange of data on ecologically related
species to aid in the conservation of these
species when fishing for southern bluefin
tuna.
• Convention for the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(CCAMLR). Aims to conserve, including
rational use of Antarctic marine living
resources. This includes supporting research
to understand the effects of CCAMLR
fishing on associated and dependent species,
and monitoring levels of incidental take of
these species on New Zealand vessels fishing
in CCAMLR waters.
• Convention on the Conservation and
Management of Highly Migratory Fish
Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific
Ocean (WCPFC). The objective is to
ensure, through effective management, the
long-term conservation and sustainable use
of highly migratory fish stocks in accordance
with UNCLOS.
• South Tasman Rise Orange Roughy
Arrangement. The arrangement puts in
place the requirement for New Zealand and
Australian fishers to have approval from the
appropriate authorities to trawl or carry out
other demersal fishing for any species in the
STR area
• Convention on the Conservation and
Management of High Seas Fishery
Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (a
Regional Fisheries Management
Organisation, colloquially SPRFMO) has
recently been negotiated to facilitate
management of non-highly migratory species
in the South Pacific.