14 January 2013: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has recognized the importance of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation of migratory sharks in its resolution on “Oceans and the Law of the Sea.”

On 11 December 2012, during the 51st and 52nd meetings of its 67th Session, the UNGA noted in its Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries (UNGA Res. A/RES/67/79) the adoption of the Sharks MoU. Range States to the Sharks MOU are invited to consider signing and associating themselves with the MOU as cooperating partners of the conservation instrument.

The Resolution refers to the sustainable use of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks and recognizes the potential contribution of fisheries to sustainable development. It also highlights the call made at the UN Convention on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) for the adoption, by 2014, of strategies to assist developing countries, particularly the least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in enhancing their national capacity to conserve, sustainably manage and realize the benefits of sustainable fisheries. It also seeks to ensure that decisions taken by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) are based on the best available scientific information. [CMS News]