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SEAFO

SOUTH EAST ATLANTIC FISHERIES ORGANISATION

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BACKGROUND

• Historically open access/freedom of the Seas

• United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 10 December 1982.

• UCLOS-framework for Management of fish stocks.

- Art. 62 “The coastal State shall promote the objective of optimum utilization of the living resources in the exclusive economic zone …” [territorial waters of 12N miles included in the EEZ of 200N miles]

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BACKGROUND CONTINUED

- Art. 63

“Where the same stock or stocks of associates species occur within the exclusive economic zones of two or more coastal States, these States shall seek, either directly or through appropriate sub-regional or regional organizations, to agree upon the measures necessary to co-ordinate and ensure the conservation and development of such stocks”

[Straddling stocks]

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BACKGROUND CONTINUED

- Art. 64 “The coastal State and other States whose nationals fish in the region for the highly migratory species listed in Annex 1 shall co-operate directly or through appropriate international organizations with a view to ensuring conservation and promoting the objective of optimum utilization of such species throughout the region, both within and beyond the exclusive economic zone.

In regions for which no appropriate international organization exists, the coastal State and other States whose nationals harvest these species in the region shall co-operate to establish such an organization and participate in its work.”

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Straddling Stocks Fish Species

Patagonian toothfish, Alfonsino, Orange Roughy, Armourhead/ Boarfish, Wreck Fish, Deep Sea Red crabs, Sharks (deep sea), Cardinal fish, horse mackerel and Oreo dories, Deepsea Hake Bycatch Octopus, Squid,

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BACKGROUND CONTINUED• UNCLOS framework was adequate for management within EEZ to

200N miles

• Not effective for Straddling and migratory fish stocks

• AGREEMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA OF 10 DECEMBER 1982 RELATING TO THE CONSERVATION OF STRADDLING FISH STOCKS AND HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH SOCKS

• Regional organisations – RFMO’s serve as the appropriate structures

• There are 13 RFMOs in existence, SEAFO is one of them

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Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

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OBJECTIVES OF SEAFO

To ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fishery resources on the high seas, other than highly migratory stocks, found in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean beyond the limits of national jurisdiction taking into account other living marine resources and the protection of the marine environment, in the conservation area through the effective implementation of this Conservation (SEAFO).

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Participation: SEAFO

Contracting Parties -Coastal States : Angola, Namibia, South Africa and United Kingdom

-Counties known to fish in the SEAFO area: Spain, Portugal, Russia, Cyprus, Mauritius, Ice-land, USA, Rep Korea, Japan, Poland, European Union and Norway

Convention - Convention adopted on 5 January 2001- South Africa signed the Convention on 11 April 2001- Convention came into force on 13 April 2003

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Key Issues of the SEAFO Convention• The Convention calls for establishment of a Commission • Commission manages the fisheries • Formulate & adopt conservation & management measures

• Commission functions – Secretariat and two committees, viz:-Secretariat ► Performs any duties delegated by the commission ► Estimated annual costs- R300 000,00

-Scientific Committee ► Compile statistical data to ensure best scientific advice is available

- Compliance Committee► Establish appropriate compliance mechanisms for effective monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement

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• Management regime beyond EEZ

• Management regime takes an eco-system approach

• Opens opportunities for gaining access to resources in the high seas • Jointly negotiate quotas and scientific assessments (NB – not applicable to EEZ)

• Job creation and economic growth

• Benefits to the coastal states out-weigh costs

BENEFITS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

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We request this Joint Meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs to support the Ratification of the SEAFO Convention by Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.

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THANK YOU