JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
RT HON 0 W R PALMER, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND
HON R 3 HAWKS, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
2 FEBRUARY 1990
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At a ceremony today attended by the Prime Minister of New
Zealand, the Right Honourable Geoffrey Palmer, the Prime
Minister of Australia, the Honourable Bob Hawke, signed the
Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets
in the South Pacific. Mr Palmer had signed the Convention
in November last year.
Both Prime Ministers acknowledged that the Convention, which
UIt C9 4cvemDer iY0 was a
significant step towards the elimination of the
environmentally disastrous technique of driftnet fishing.
They pledged to cooperate even more closely at both the
multilateral and bilateral levels to bring this practice
to an end.
Noting that the Convention requires the parties to
collaborate on surveillance and enforcement measures, the
Prime Ministers announced that they would initiate a range
of' cooperative measures aimed at increasing the Forum
Fisheries Agency database on the activities of driftnet
vessels. These measures could include:
The development of a programme of' surveillance by RAAF
and RNZAF aircraft over the Tasman Sea for driftnetting
in the 1990/ 91 season,
The intensification of their surveillance of driftnet
fishing in high seas areas of the South Pacific.
The targeting of driftnet activities within their present
surveillance of' South Pacific EEZs, in consultation with
the South Pacific countries.
The fullest support for the Forum Fisheries Agency in
the design and development of an integrated programme
of regional fisheries surveillance, including the
targetting of driftnet activities in the South Pacific
Exclusive Economic Zones and in the high seas areas of
the South Pacific. Such a programme was called for by
South Pacific Forum leaders at Tarawa in July 1989.
These activities to be complemented where necessary* by
appropriate changes to the routings of existing naval
patrols. The Prime Ministers noted that work had already begun between
New Zealand and Australia on an arrangement for mutual assistance
and cooperation in fisheries compliance matters,
including the exchange of fisheries related information.
Working more closely in respect of driftnet activities will
now form a vital part of that cooperation.
They also noted that cooperation on this issue willI include
efforts in international forums such as the United Nations
which has already adopted a resolution heralding the complete
cessation of driftnetting in the South Pacific by 1 July
1991 and elsewhere by mid 1992. The resolution was
co-sponsored by both New Zealand and Australia.
Ends