BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a7bd2900e448 DTSTART:20170320T030000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20170320T050000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Briefing on the fisheries regulatory framework at the multilateral level CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The fisheries sector represents one of the oldest economic acti vities carried out by the human race and remains one of the most relevant for many developing countries. Indeed\, fisheries often account for betwee n 5 and 10 per cent of GDP and exports for many LDCs and SIDS. Globally\, fish is the most traded animal protein commodity and is a particularly imp ortant source of nutrition and protein for coastal populations\, as well a s being fundamental to their livelihoods. Despite this\, we see today that around 31.4% of fish stocks are estimated as fished at biologically unsus tainable levels\, a proportion that has been steadily increasing over rece nt decades. Recognized drivers of this trend are overfishing\, illegal\, u nreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities\, the existence of harm ful incentives including certain types of fisheries subsidies\, and the im pacts of climate change.\n\nUnder Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14\, three targets explicitly focus on the trade-related aspects of fisheries:\ n\n\nTarget 14.4: By 2020\, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfi shing\, illegal\, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishi ng practices and implement science-based management plans\, in order to re store fish stocks in the shortest time feasible\, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological ch aracteristics\;\nTarget 14.6: By 2020\, prohibit certain forms of fisherie s subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing\, eliminate s ubsidies that contribute to illegal\, unreported and unregulated fishing a nd refrain from introducing new such subsidies\, recognizing that appropri ate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and le ast developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Orga nization fisheries subsidies negotiation\;\nTarget 14.b: Provide access fo r small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.\n\n\n\nIn 2017\, there will be two landmark conferences that could have significant bearing in helping the international community advance these targets\, na mely:\n\n\nHigh Level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementat ion of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the o ceans\, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (New York\, June 2017)\, co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden\; and\n11th W TO Ministerial Conference (Buenos Aires\, December 2017).\n\n\nOutline of the event\n\nWith the purpose of fostering debate and developing specific policy options and novel ideas that would feed into both processes in the realm of fisheries\, UNCTAD will be organising two parallel oceans events. \n\nThe first will be a Briefing on "\;The fisheries regulatory framew ork at multilateral level and preparations to the U.N. High Level Oceans C onference 2017"\; in order to provide clarity on the main obligations and functioning of the multilateral legal framework applicable to fisherie s and the development of the process leading to the 2017 UN Oceans Confere nce. This event is the result of a request made by participants during a p revious briefing on the 2017 UN Oceans Conference.\n\nThe second event wil l be the Oceans Forum on trade-related aspects of SDG 14\, which will seek discuss policy and regulatory options for advancing the implementation of trade in fish related targets under SDG 14 by drawing on global\, regiona l and cross-country experiences\, sharing lessons\, sensitising developmen t partnerships and designing more effective support measures.\n\nThese eve nts will also seek to advance and implement the mandate given under paragr aph 100 (t) of Nairobi Maafikiano (Consensus):  "\;in cooperation wit h other relevant international organizations and other stakeholders should support developing countries UNCTAD\, in particular SIDS\, in the advance ment of Sustainable Development Goal 14 in the design and implementation o f regional and/or national economic development strategies for the conserv ation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources seeking to promote sustainable trade in ocean-based sectors including through analysis of fi sheries subsidies that lead to overcapacity and overfishing and subsidies that contribute to illegal\, unreported and unregulated fishing and the ch allenges they pose to developing countries\, particularly in connection wi th the conservation of marine resources and food security. "\;\n\nThe forum will also explore options to implement the UNCTAD-FAO-UNEP Statement on Fisheries Subsidies\, which is supported by 91 countries\, 4 IGOs and more than 15 Global Civil Society Organisations. UNCTAD and FAO will be wo rking with its traditional partners on Oceans Economy and fisheries\, espe cially the Commonwealth Secretariat\, the ACP Group and International Ocea ns Institute (IOI). The results and recommendations of the Forum will be d irectly channelled by United Nations and its partners to both the United N ations and WTO processes. All presentations during these two events will b e followed by discussions. On the UNCTAD side this will be a DITC and ALDC event. he forum will also explore options to implement the UNCTAD-FAO-UNE P Statement on Fisheries Subsidies\, which is supported by 91 countries\, 4 IGOs and more than 15 Global Civil Society Organisations. UNCTAD and FAO will be working with its traditional partners on Oceans Economy and fishe ries\, especially the Commonwealth Secretariat\, the ACP Group and Interna tional Oceans Institute (IOI). The results and recommendations of the Foru m will be directly channelled by United Nations and its partners to both t he United Nations and WTO processes. All presentations during these two ev ents will be followed by discussions. On the UNCTAD side this will be a DI TC and ALDC event.\n<\;p>\;The fisheries sector represents one of the oldest economic activities carried out by the human race and remains one o f the most relevant for many developing countries. Indeed\, fisheries ofte n account for between 5 and 10 per cent of GDP and exports for many LDCs a nd SIDS. Globally\, fish is the most traded animal protein commodity and i s a particularly important source of nutrition and protein for coastal pop ulations\, as well as being fundamental to their livelihoods. Despite this \, we see today that around 31.4% of fish stocks are estimated as fished a t biologically unsustainable levels\, a proportion that has been steadily increasing over recent decades. Recognized drivers of this trend are overf ishing\, illegal\, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities\, t he existence of harmful incentives including certain types of fisheries su bsidies\, and the impacts of climate change.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;Und er Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14\, three targets explicitly focus on the trade-related aspects of fisheries:<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;ul>\;\n&l t\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Target 14.4<\;/strong>\;: By 2020\, effectiv ely regulate harvesting and end overfishing\, illegal\, unreported and unr egulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-b ased management plans\, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest ti me feasible\, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yiel d as determined by their biological characteristics\;<\;/li>\;\n<\;l i>\;<\;strong>\;Target 14.6<\;/strong>\;: By 2020\, prohibit cer tain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and ove rfishing\, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal\, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies\, rec ognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part o f the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation\;<\;/li&g t\;\n<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Target 14.b<\;/strong>\;: Provide acc ess for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.<\ ;/li>\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;br />\;\nIn 2017\, there wil l be two landmark conferences that could have significant bearing in helpi ng the international community advance these targets\, namely:<\;/p>\; \n\n<\;ol>\;\n<\;li>\;High Level United Nations Conference to Supp ort the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and su stainably use the oceans\, seas and marine resources for sustainable devel opment (New York\, June 2017)\, co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and S weden\; and<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;11th WTO Ministerial Conference (Bue nos Aires\, December 2017).<\;/li>\;\n<\;/ol>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\ ;strong>\;Outline of the event<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p> \;With the purpose of fostering debate and developing specific policy opti ons and novel ideas that would feed into both processes in the realm of fi sheries\, UNCTAD will be organising two parallel oceans events.<\;/p>\ ;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;The first will be a Briefing on<\;/stron g>\; "\;The fisheries regulatory framework at multilateral level and preparations to the U.N. High Level Oceans Conference 2017"\; in orde r to provide clarity on the main obligations and functioning of the multil ateral legal framework applicable to fisheries and the development of the process leading to the 2017 UN Oceans Conference. This event is the result of a request made by participants during a previous briefing on the 2017 UN Oceans Conference.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;The second event will be the Oceans Forum<\;/strong>\; on trade-related aspects of SDG 14\, which will seek discuss policy and regulatory options for adva ncing the implementation of trade in fish related targets under SDG 14 by drawing on global\, regional and cross-country experiences\, sharing lesso ns\, sensitising development partnerships and designing more effective sup port measures.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;These events will also seek to ad vance and implement the mandate given under paragraph 100 (t) of Nairobi M aafikiano (Consensus):&\;nbsp\; "\;in cooperation with other releva nt international organizations and other stakeholders should support devel oping countries UNCTAD\, in particular SIDS\, in the advancement of Sustai nable Development Goal 14 in the design and implementation of regional and /or national economic development strategies for the conservation and sust ainable use of oceans and their resources seeking to promote sustainable t rade in ocean-based sectors including through analysis of fisheries subsid ies that lead to overcapacity and overfishing and subsidies that contribut e to illegal\, unreported and unregulated fishing and the challenges they pose to developing countries\, particularly in connection with the conserv ation of marine resources and food security. "\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p >\;The forum will also explore options to implement the UNCTAD-FAO-UNEP Statement on Fisheries Subsidies\, which is supported by 91 countries\, 4 IGOs and more than 15 Global Civil Society Organisations. UNCTAD and FAO w ill be working with its traditional partners on Oceans Economy and fisheri es\, especially the Commonwealth Secretariat\, the ACP Group and Internati onal Oceans Institute (IOI). The results and recommendations of the Forum will be directly channelled by United Nations and its partners to both the United Nations and WTO processes. All presentations during these two even ts will be followed by discussions. On the UNCTAD side this will be a DITC and ALDC event. he forum will also explore options to implement the UNCTA D-FAO-UNEP Statement on Fisheries Subsidies\, which is supported by 91 cou ntries\, 4 IGOs and more than 15 Global Civil Society Organisations. UNCTA D and FAO will be working with its traditional partners on Oceans Economy and fisheries\, especially the Commonwealth Secretariat\, the ACP Group an d International Oceans Institute (IOI). The results and recommendations of the Forum will be directly channelled by United Nations and its partners to both the United Nations and WTO processes. All presentations during the se two events will be followed by discussions. On the UNCTAD side this wil l be a DITC and ALDC event.<\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nh ttps://unctad.org/node/25842 DTSTAMP:20260812T015528Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR