In line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, RFMOs are international organisations through which coastal states and other states fishing on the high seas cooperate in the conservation and management of fish stocks, particularly highly migratory or straddling fish stocks*, in a particular geographic area.

It's really intended to provide a variety of things: a precautionary approach to the establishment of fishing levels; more transparent operations of vessels on the high seas; enhanced enforcement and controls on high-seas fishing; and also an agreed mechanism to settle disputes.

The Community is a Contracting Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (Unclos), has ratified the United Nations 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 and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks of 4 August 1995 (UN Fish Stocks Agreement) and has accepted the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas of 24 November 1993 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unite ...[+++]d Nations (FAO Compliance Agreement).

In line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, RFMOs are international organisations through which coastal states and other states fishing on the high seas cooperate in the conservation and management of fish stocks, particularly highly migratory or straddling fish stocks*, in a particular geographic area.

Under the agreement, regional organizations will have the authority to impose and enforce fisheries regulations on the high seas.

UNCLOS does not effectively address concerns over high seas fisheries management and therefore we must have an effective international high seas enforcement regime to protect fish stocks which straddle Canada's 200 mile fishing zone in adjacent high seas.