ABSTRACT
Even with the Law of the Sea Convention and Fish Stocks Agreement in force we know that management of fish stocks on the high seas (including straddling stocks) is largely ineffective, with stocks in many fisheries being “depleted” or “severely depleted”. The management agencies are the Regional Fish Management Organizations, but of these a Canadian report said, “the secretariats running the various RFMOs were described to Committee members as weak and having essentially no authority. With respect to NAFO, one suggestion was for impartial, professional staff to be brought from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization or other global organisations.” 1 In other words, RFMOs would be better run by somebody other than the representatives selected by member countries.
