The ninth meeting of the UN Open-Ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP9) took place from 23-27 June 2008, at UN headquarters in New York, US.

The meeting brought together over 400 representatives from governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.
During the week, delegates met in plenary sessions and held a discussion panel on maritime security and safety. Delegates negotiated elements for consideration by the plenary and to be forwarded to the General Assembly and expressed their desire to reach consensus, especially given that ICP8 was unable to reach agreement and the ICP’s mandate is set to be renewed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this year. Sticking points in the final hours of negotiations related to the inclusion of references to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and transport of nuclear waste, although compromise language was agreed on both of these elements and delegates forwarded their recommendations to the UNGA for consideration at its 63rd session under the agenda item “Oceans and the law of the sea.”
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