EU Presidency Statement - Working Group on Marine Biodiversity, Agenda Item 5a

o Already 14 years ago, at UNCED in Rio, we agreed on Agenda 21, which in chapter 17 notes the inadequacy of high seas fisheries management, and which promotes the application of an integrated, precautionary and an ecosystem approach to oceans management

o Also, the Convention on Biological Diversity was conceived at UNCED, containing the precautionary principle and ecosystem approach Following the CBD, the Straddling Stocks Agreement was adopted in 1995, again incorporating the precautionary approach.

o The 2000 Millennium Development Goals stressed the need for sustainable management of living species and natural resources.

o The 2002 WSSD called inter alia for the establishment of a representative global network of marine protected areas by 2012 and called for the recovery of fish stocks by 2015.

o UNGA in 2002 reiterated the WSSD outcome in its calls to implement diverse approaches and tools including the ecosystem approach; the elimination of destructive fishing practices; the establishment of representative networks of MPAs by 2012; and the integration of marine and coastal management in key sectors. It further called for the urgent consideration of ways to integrate and improve the management of risks to marine biodiversity of seamounts and other underwater features.

o In 2003 UNGA called for an improved scientific basis for decision making, and called on international bodies to better address threats and risks to vulnerable and threatened ecosystems and biodiversity in ABNJ, with the principle of an integrated ecosystem-based approach to management in mind.

o In 2004 UNGA 59/24, Member States reiterated their concerns at the adverse impacts on the marine biodiversity of destructive practices, pollution and alien invasive species, and 59/25 initiated urgent action to address destructive practices and to protect marine biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystems.

o FAO has developed a number of action plans, technical guidelines, a code of conduct, and codes of practices, technical guidelines regarding sustainable management of fisheries, which were endorsed by its Committee on Fisheries.

o IMO developed measures on ships-discharges, anti-fouling systems and a convention regarding ballast water. IMO also agreed in 2001 on guidelines for identification and designation of PSSAs.

o The CBD adopted in 1996 the so called Jakarta Mandate, which provides for a work programme on marine and coastal biodiversity. In 2004, the CBD COP7 concluded that MPAs were deficient in purpose, number and coverage, and called for urgent cooperation in ABNJ, including for MPAs, a process which was started at the 2005 Working Group on marine protected areas, including on ecological criteria and bio-geographical classification systems for their identification.

o In 2005 UNGA launched the start-up phase ("assessment of assessments") as a preparatory stage towards the establishment of the regular process for Global Marine Assessment.