Background

In response to a growing concern of the international community over possible negative impacts of bottom fisheries activities on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) in the high seas areas, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States started discussion on this issue in August 2006.   

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution (UNGA 61/105) in the fall of 2006, which calls for States to: (i) establish a regional fisheries management organization or arrangement competent to regulate bottom fisheries where there is no such organization or arrangement; (ii) adopt and implement interim measures in accordance with precautionary approach, ecosystem approaches and international law by no later than 31 December 2007; (iii) identify VMEs and assess, on the basis of the best available scientific information, whether individual bottom fishing activities would have significant adverse impacts on such VMEs; (iv) ensure if it is assessed that these activities would have significant adverse impacts, they are managed to prevent such impacts, or not authorized to proceed; (v) require their vessels to cease bottom fishing activities in areas, where, in the course of fishing operations, VMEs are encountered, and to report the encounter so that appropriate measures can be adopted in respect of the relevant site ((ii) to (v) above are to be completed by no later than 31 December 2008).

Accordingly, the four countries started discussion on a new regional fisheries management organization or arrangement as well as interim measures. As of July 2009, Sixth Scientific Working Group Meetings and Sixth Inter-governmental Meetings have been held so far. Interim measures have been established and discussion on the new organization or arrangement is still going on.

At the Sixth Inter-governmental Meeting held from 18 to 20 February 2009 in Busan, the Participating States, with Canada attending for the first time, discussed the new draft text, and agreed to sort out each country's position on each article so as to facilitate consideration by the Participating States and thereby expedite the negotiations.

History of consultations
Map
Fisheries
Interim measures
Scientific Working Group
Assessment
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Vessel List