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Both coastal and high seas fishing states must assume enhanced 

 and explicit responsibilities for the conservation and protection 

 of habitat for straddling and highly migratory fish stocks on 

 both the high seas and within EEZs. The commitment to "preserve" 

 marine habitat in the context of fisheries management both on the 

 high seas and in zones of national jurisdiction has been agreed 

 in principle in Agenda 21 (inter alia 17.46f, 17.74f). This 

 commitment must be fully reflected, in a legally binding manner, 

 as part of giving "full effect" to the straddling stock and 

 highly migratory fish stock provisions of the UN Convention on 

 the Law of the Sea (Agenda 21, 17.49a/b). 



In general, mechanisms at the national, regional and global 

 levels must be established and strengthened to ensure meaningful 

 public participation in the development of priorities, policies, 

 implementation and oversight of marine fisheries. Greenpeace, 

 for example, has had real difficulties in obtaining access to 

 the annual meetings of NAFO. We have, over the last several 

 years, repeatedly requested observer status and been denied. 



However, mechanisms to ensure public participation must include 

 more than merely granting NGO "observer status" to select 

 meetings or commissions. Participation must include access to 

 information, ability to comment and participate in decision 

 making, and public oversight and controls on commercial fishing 

 activities. The oceans belong to no one, but ensuring that human 

 impact does not contribute or create environmental destruction in 



