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4. The results of the UN Conference must be viewed as legally and 

 politically binding. Options for achieving this might include a new 

 global treaty, a protocol to UNCLOS, and/or regulations or norms of 

 conduct implementing UNCLOS once it enters into force. While these 

 and other options deserve scrutiny, the most important issue is 

 political will: a serious commitment by governments — individually 

 and collectively — to accept, implement and be bound by agreements 

 that will make a difference. { 



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5. It is in this introductory context that the actions described in 

 paragraphs 6-16, below, which are not listed in any particular 

 order of priority, should be considered. NGOs have agreed on key 

 points addressed in this appeal in various international forums, 

 including but not limited to NGO meetings during Earth Summit 

 PrepComs; in Rio de Janeiro during the Summit as part of the 

 "alternative" NGO Fisheries Treaty; and at an NGO workshop during 

 the organizational session for the Conference. 



A. PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH 



6. The precautionary approach is now widely endorsed 'as a 

 fundamental principle. Applying this principle means exercising 

 caution if there is uncertainty con'^erning the effects of human 

 interactions with ecosystems. For moat human activities affecting 

 marine environments including fishing, particularly large-scale 

 commercial and industrial fishing, 'the standard approach has been 

 to place short-term economic gains first. Environmental 

 consequences, in contrast, usually get little or no regard until 

 serious problems have already become apparent. 



7. UNCLOS ' s framework for fisheries, though not yet formally in 

 force, strongly supports the precautionary approach -- mandating 

 conservation of living resources in the high seas (Art. 117) as 

 well as in zones of national jurisdiction (Art. 61(2)). Moreover, 

 with UNCLOS (Art. 119(b) and 61(4)) requiring that the effects of 

 fishing practices on associated and dependent species be taken into 

 account, the precautionary approach greatly increases the 

 likelihood that such species will be protected despite uncertainty 

 regarding impacts. 



B. ECOLOGICALLY SOUND PRACTICES 



8. If the precautionary approach is to succeed, fisheries must be 

 managed from an ecosystem perspective utilizing integrated 

 management principles and conservation objectives which considers 

 human activities that degrade aquatic ecosystems, as well as the 

 ecological impacts of fishing effort (eg, bycatch, discard and 

 waste of non-targeted fish and other marine wildlife; methods of 

 deployment, such as bottom trawling), resource renewal and 

 replacement rates. Moreover, the management of activities must 

 consider the cumulative impacts on ocean ecosystems of such things 

 as agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, lard- and sea-based sources 



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