Statement by Delegation of Sri Lanka,
at the 2010 Session of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal
Working Group to Study Issues Relating to the  Conservation
and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond
Areas of National Jurisdiction
United Nations, New York. 1 February 2010

Co Chairs,
Distinguished Delegates,

My Delegation wishes to congratulate the Co Chairs of the Working Group, Ms. Lispeth Lijhnstead (Netherlands) and Ambassador Palitha Kohona, (Sri Lanka) on their appointment and to extend our appreciation to them for undertaking to guide our deliberations in formulating viable and generally acceptable recommendations to be provided to the General Assembly at its 65th Session. We would also express appreciation to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the OLA for the report of the SG in document A/64/66/Add 2 and for its support in preparing for and servicing this meeting.

Distinguished Co Chairs,
It is our view that Marine Genetic Resources in areas beyond  national jurisdiction are part of the common heritage of mankind, and it is with that understanding  that we face the task of gaining knowledge of the scientific complexity and of securing the means by which to access this valuable resource while recognizing the need to conserve and protect it. The technology and science must be available to all and we need to find a common understanding on the way forward.

It is accepted that there needs to be an integrated, cooperative and coordinated approach to managing the marine environment and this applies to marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.  

There needs to be a better understanding of the technical, environmental, socioeconomic and legal aspects related to marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. To this end developing country participation requires the availability of scientific data  to them. 

Sri Lanka considers the participation of the International Seabed Authority as being vital to the development of a conservation and management regime, given its mandate under the Law of the Sea Convention, in particular in Article 143 and 145 thereof.

As regards the sustainable development of high seas fisheries Sri Lanka recognizes a clear and yet unfulfilled need to establish a regional fisheries management organization with wider species regulation and with competence to exercise effective regulatory approaches for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in its neighboring high seas.  In the national context,  important biological resources beyond areas of national jurisdiction includes migratory species such as tuna, billfish, migratory sharks and mammals. 
These are the important groups among the large pelagic fish landings in Sri Lanka.   (The respective landings of catch mainly within the exclusive economic zone of the above three groups in the last three consecutive years totaled 225,353Mt of Tuna, 29,036 Mt of billfish and 6095 Mt of sharks).
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Action has already been taken by Sri Lanka, in many respects with the intention of conservation and sustainable utilization of marine biological diversity.  Sri Lanka acts as a leading member country in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).  Catch and effort data in offshore fishery are the basis for monitoring national fish production, to identify the stock status, making recommendations and advising on various aspects towards the management of offshore fishery resources.  Sri Lanka is also a member country of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project.  The objective of this project is to develop a strategic action plan to enhance national and regional efforts in place under the BOBLME project to protect the health of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem and manage the living resources at the BOBLME on a sustainable basis to improve the food source and livelihoods of fishers.

Sri Lanka continues working on the issue of conservation of migratory sharks and has consented to an agreement being developed under article 3, 4 & 5 of the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).  This  would add value to current global shark conservation and management efforts.  It is now in the process of preparing a management plan for conservation and management of shark species found in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka has launched a programme for regulation of commercial marine mammal watching, particularly of whales and dolphins.  Regulations have already been drafted for marine mammal viewing which occurs off the coasts all around the country.  These were drafted in view of the need for special  conservation measures for marine mammals and sustainable development of the resources for the benefit of the tourist industry. 

A Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) has been established in Sri Lanka as an independent NGO to device and facilitate the implementation of sustainable marine turtle conservation strategy through education, research and community participation.

Sri Lanka is committed to multilateral collaborative approaches to development and implementation for the exploitation and sustainable utilization of biological resources.
It supports the preparation of regional and international management plans for sustainable utilization of highly migratory fish.  Sri Lanka also supports the promotion of multilateral research that should be conducted towards the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization of marine biological resources.

Co Chairs, distinguished delegates, my delegation will extend its fullest cooperation to you and to this process and is confident that mutual accommodation will be the key to our success and that the views of all concerned delegations will be reflected in the conclusions to be presented to the General Assembly, and that particular consideration will be given to the concerns of small developing states.  

I thank you.