SEAFO

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SEAFO

• SOUTH EAST ATLANTIC FISHERIES ORGANISATION

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(No Transcript)
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BACKGROUND

• Historically open access/freedom of the Seas
• United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 10
  December 1982.
• UCLOS-framework for Management of fish stocks.
• - Art. 62 The coastal State shall promote the
  objective of optimum utilization of the living
  resources in the exclusive economic zone
  territorial waters of 12N miles included in the
  EEZ of 200N miles

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BACKGROUND CONTINUED

• - Art. 63
• Where the same stock or stocks of associates
  species occur within the exclusive economic zones
  of two or more coastal States, these States shall
  seek, either directly or through appropriate
  sub-regional or regional organizations, to agree
  upon the measures necessary to co-ordinate and
  ensure the conservation and development of such
  stocks
• Straddling stocks

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BACKGROUND CONTINUED
- Art. 64 The coastal State and other States
whose nationals fish in the region for the
highly migratory species listed in Annex 1 shall
co-operate directly or through appropriate
international organizations with a view to
ensuring conservation and promoting the
objective of optimum utilization of such species
throughout the region, both within and beyond the
exclusive economic zone. In regions for which
no appropriate international organization exists,
the coastal State and other States whose
nationals harvest these species in the region
shall co-operate to establish such an
organization and participate in its work.
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Straddling Stocks Fish Species Patagonian
toothfish, Alfonsino, Orange Roughy, Armourhead/
Boarfish, Wreck Fish, Deep Sea Red crabs, Sharks
(deep sea), Cardinal fish, horse mackerel and
Oreo dories, Deepsea Hake Bycatch Octopus,
Squid, -
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BACKGROUND CONTINUED

• UNCLOS framework was adequate for management
  within EEZ to 200N miles
• Not effective for Straddling and migratory fish
  stocks
• AGREEMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
  PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON
  THE LAW OF THE SEA OF 10 DECEMBER 1982 RELATING
  TO THE CONSERVATION OF STRADDLING FISH STOCKS AND
  HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH SOCKS
• Regional organisations RFMOs serve as the
  appropriate structures
• There are 13 RFMOs in existence, SEAFO is one of
  them

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Regional Fisheries Management Organizations
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OBJECTIVES OF SEAFO
To ensure the long-term conservation and
sustainable use of the fishery resources on the
high seas, other than highly migratory stocks,
found in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean beyond the
limits of national jurisdiction taking into
account other living marine resources and the
protection of the marine environment, in the
conservation area through the effective
implementation of this Conservation (SEAFO).
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Participation SEAFO

• Contracting Parties
• Coastal States Angola, Namibia, South Africa
  and United Kingdom
• Counties known to fish in the SEAFO area Spain,
  Portugal, Russia, Cyprus, Mauritius, Ice-land,
  USA, Rep Korea, Japan, Poland, European Union and
  Norway
• Convention
• - Convention adopted on 5 January 2001
• South Africa signed the Convention on 11 April
  2001
• Convention came into force on 13 April 2003

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Key Issues of the SEAFO Convention

• The Convention calls for establishment of a
  Commission
• Commission manages the fisheries
• Formulate adopt conservation management
  measures
• Commission functions Secretariat and two
  committees, viz
• Secretariat
• ? Performs any duties delegated by the
  commission
• ? Estimated annual costs- R300 000,00
• Scientific Committee
• ? Compile statistical data to ensure best
  scientific advice is available
• - Compliance Committee
• ? Establish appropriate compliance mechanisms for
  effective monitoring, control, surveillance and
  enforcement

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Management regime beyond EEZ Management
regime takes an eco-system approach Opens
opportunities for gaining access to resources in
the high seas Jointly negotiate quotas and
scientific assessments (NB not applicable to
EEZ) Job creation and economic growth
Benefits to the coastal states out-weigh costs
BENEFITS FOR SOUTH AFRICA
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We request this Joint Meeting of the Portfolio
Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism
and the Select Committee on Land and
Environmental Affairs to support the Ratification
of the SEAFO Convention by Parliament of the
Republic of South Africa.
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THANK YOU