On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the opening for signature of the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, it is important to recall the critical importance of sustainable fisheries to food security, economic prosperity, poverty alleviation, employment and the sustainable development of many States, particularly developing States.  Sustainable fisheries are also essential for the long-term health and resilience of the oceans and seas on which humanity relies so greatly.

The Agreement promotes the sustainability of some of the world’s most commercially important fish stocks, by setting out a comprehensive legal regime for the conservation and sustainable use of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks.

However, the world’s fisheries are still in crisis, as many important fish stocks remain subject to overfishing, even to the point of depletion. As we embark on efforts to meet the ambitious Goals and targets agreed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Goal 14 to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”, we need to redouble our efforts to safeguard the world’s fisheries.

In marking this anniversary, let us recognize both the successes the Agreement has made possible and the distance still to travel towards achieving universal participation as well as its full and effective implementation.