13 March 2015 | CIL Distinguished Speaker Series

Reflections on Sustainable Fishing of Highly Migratory and Straddling Fish Stocks under the 1995 Fish Stocks Agreement and Western Pacific Fisheries Commission

Introduction

In the first of three public talks, Ambassador Satya Nandan shared his observations on the discussions that surrounded the design of today’s international fisheries regime for living resources. As former rapporteur of the 2nd Committee of the conference on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Chairman of the conference that adopted the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of UNCLOS relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the Implementing Agreement), Ambassador Nandan is in an incomparable position to explain how the negotiations of UNCLOS led to the Implementing Agreement, how the latter improves the international fisheries regime, as well as to discuss remaining issues.

As former Chairman of the negotiations that led to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and current Chairman of the WCPFC, which was the first regional fisheries management organisation created after the Implementing Agreement, Ambassador Nandan is again in an incomparable position to explain how the WCPFC works to operationalise the 1995 Implementing Agreement in the Western and Central Pacific, detail the main difficulties encountered, discuss remaining obstacles to the full implementation of the Implementing Agreement and share the lessons learned in this process.

Presentation

To download Amb Satya Nandan’s presentation in PDF format, click here.

About the Speaker

Ambassador Satya N. Nandan has had an illustrious career in the international arena, which spans a few decades. He has represented Fiji before the United Nations, as Ambassador to several European States, and has led several intergovernmental organisations. In 1965, he earned his Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of London, before being called to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Fiji. After a few years in private practice, he represented Fiji in various capacities for 13 consecutive years. These include, inter alia, leading the Fiji Delegation to the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. In 1977, he was appointed Chairman of Negotiating Group 4 for the Conference. Ambassador Satya Nandan was instrumental to the conclusion of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He has served concurrently as UN UnderSecretary-General for Ocean Affairs on the Law of the Sea and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the same. From 1990 – 1994, he convened and coordinated meetings on Part XI of UNCLOS, which led to the 1994 Agreement relating to its implementation. Subsequently he represented Fiji before the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Ambassador Nandan played a key role in the 1995 Fish Stocks Agreement. From 1996 – 2008, he was appointed Secretary-General of the ISA, and was re-elected for two consecutive terms. Thereafter, he chaired the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for 2 years. Amongst his accolades, he is a recipient of the Onassis Distinguished Scholar Award, Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy. He remains a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for Oceans Law and Policy (COLP), University of Virginia School of Law.