The NAFO Model of International Collaborative Research, Management and Cooperation

• Main Authors: L. S. Parsons, J. S. Beckett
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.595.9899; http://journal.nafo.int/j23/parsons.pdf

Following extension of fisheries jurisdiction to 200 nautical miles by Coastal States in the Northwest Atlantic in 1977, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) was established through a multilateral convention. NAFO differed substantially in form and modalities from its predecessor fisheries organization, International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF), which had been responsible for international fish-eries management in the Northwest Atlantic from 1949. The structure of NAFO was de-signed to reflect the circumstances of Coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries in much of the area, the existence of several self-contained stocks outside 200 miles on the Flemish Cap, and the existence of several stocks which straddle the boundary between the Coastal States jurisdiction and the waters outside the 200-mile zones of the Coastal States. NAFO functioned relatively smoothly during its first years (1979–85). From l985 to the early-1990s, decisions by the Fisheries Commission of NAFO were ineffective because of ex-tensive use of the "objection procedure " by one member of NAFO. During the past two years, this conflict has abated. Progress has been made in devising a more effective man-agement and enforcement regime. Recent international legal developments, especially the 1985 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Conven-tion on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Manage-ment of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, will have significant implications for the functioning of NAFO. In particular, the implementation of a precau-tionary approach to management will pose significant challenges and opportunities for NAFO. Key words: international organization, management, NAFO