31 July 1992

42nd plenary meeting

Cooperation in fisheries in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/184 of 21 December 1990,

Recalling also its resolutions 1990/77 of 27 July 1990 and 1991/73 of 26 July 1991,

Aware of the importance of regional and subregional agreements for the development of fishery resources,

Considering the need to encourage these initiatives, which are directed towards attaining food self-sufficiency, improving nutrition, diversifying exports, promoting employment and ensuring the sustainable development of fishery resources,

Welcoming the convening, at Rabat in 1989 and at Dakar in 1991, of the first and second sessions of the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Fisheries among the African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation in fisheries in Africa and the oral report by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;

2. Welcomes the progress achieved in implementing the cooperation programmes of the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Fisheries among the African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean;

3. Invites the Conference to intensify its activities with a view to ensuring the sustainable development of fishery resources, in particular through the adoption of effective norms in the area of fisheries planning and management, further encouragement for the compilation and dissemination of fishery statistics as well as marine scientific research and for the protection and continued monitoring of the marine resources of the region;

4. Welcomes the support shown by the organizations of the United Nations system and by donor countries for the achievement of Conference objectives;

5. Reiterates its appeal to the international community, organizations of the United Nations system, donor countries and international and regional financial institutions to contribute generously to the implementation of Conference programmes and projects;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 1994, a report by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, working in cooperation with the other relevant organizations and in close consultation with the Acting Chairman of the Conference, on the progress achieved in the implementation of the present resolution and on the outcome of the third session of the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in Fisheries among the African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, to be held in Cape Verde in 1993;

7. Decides to include in the agenda of its substantive session of 1994 an item entitled "Cooperation in fisheries in Africa".