§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent United Nations meeting on the oceans. [125404]
§ Mr. PrescottThe United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea met for the first time in New York last week. This is a new initiative to provide a global forum where we can identify ways to improve co-ordination at a national and international level, in order to ensure effective implementation of the framework provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chapter 17 of 317W Agenda 21 (Oceans and All Seas). Participants include states, non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations.
The first meeting succeeded in providing a forum both for a general debate on oceans issues and for a more detailed discussion of particular topics. The scope for further action to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea, and improving co-ordination of global oceans management, particularly by making use of the Secretary General's annual report on all aspects of oceans use, were among the issues covered by the general debate.
The two issues given special consideration at this meeting were improved fisheries management, particularly to counter the problem of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and the economic and social implications of marine pollution.
On fisheries, one of the main priorities to emerge was the need for early adoption by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of an International Action Plan on IUU fishing. There was also support for the newly agreed co-operation between the FAO and the International Maritime Organisation on developing control measures. Regional fisheries organisations were recognised as pivotal instruments through which states can manage particular fisheries, taking account of scientific stock assessments and balancing priorities, including food security and the need for sustainable economic base for fishing communities.
On marine pollution, the meeting acknowledged the recent progress that had been made in implementing the 1995 Washington Global Programme of Action to Protect the Marine Environment against Land-Based Activities (GPA), but urged states and inter-governmental agencies to do more in this regard. It was also suggested that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) might identify what international support is needed to overcome the obstacles to the implementation of the GPA at national and local levels. The need to integrate action on marine pollution and degradation into mainstream investment programmes, as well as the need for capacity building to facilitate the integrated management of the coastal zone, were both highlighted.
The report of the meeting will be submitted to this Autumn's UN General Assembly debate on Oceans and Law of the Sea, where I hope it will help produce a focused General Assembly resolution covering the priority areas for action.
There will be a further meeting of the new process next year. A number of possible issues for special discussion have already been identified. These include improved development and use of marine science, and capacity building in developing countries.
Particularly today, World Oceans Day, I am pleased to confirm that the UK will continue to support and encourage this new informal consultative process. As well as participating in the meeting, this year we helped to shape the agenda and were able to help broaden participation by funding the attendance of a number of experts from developing countries. I hope that others will follow this lead.