International Marine Issues
Australia's Oceans Policy clearly demonstrates the importance Australia places on comprehensive and integrated management of ocean resources. Australia's former Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, has stated:
"Our oceans contain resources of enormous potential benefit to all. These resources must be managed carefully to ensure economic benefit exists side by side with sensitive environmental care."
The 1998 Report of the Independent World Commission on Oceans, The Ocean Our Future, states:
"It is generally accepted that there is a need to further elaborate international rules [inter alia] in the field of responsibility and liability for harm to the marine environment, especially for acts not prohibited by international law."
At the Seventh Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, held in New York, April 1999, Australia supported the need to improve oceans governance and the coordination of ocean related activities, both by governments and the international community. This was considered fundamental to achieving the outcomes of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21.
Fortunately, general agreement has emerged that coordination within and among governments as well as among bodies within the United Nations system is vital and can be improved.
On 17 November 1999, at its 54th Session, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 54/33 to establish an Open-ended Informal Consultative Process to facilitate annual review by the General Assembly of developments in Ocean Affairs (UNICPO). The primary task of the UNICPO is to consider the Secretary General's Report Oceans and the Law of the Sea with an emphasis on identifying where coordination and cooperation at the intergovernmental and inter-agency levels should be enhanced.
The first meeting of the UNICPO was held 30 May to 2 June 2000 in New York. Australia presented the following statements:
Australia's Opening Address to UNICPO, 30 May 2000
Australian Statement to UNICPO on behalf of South Pacific States
Australian Presentation on IUU Fishing
Australian Non-paper on High Seas Biodiversity
