The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks sets out principles for the conservation and management of those fish stocks and establishes that such management must be based on the precautionary approach and the best available scientific information.

The Agreement elaborates on the fundamental principle, established in the Convention, that States should cooperate to ensure conservation and promote the objective of the optimum utilization of fisheries resources both within and beyond the exclusive economic zone.

The Agreement attempts to achieve this objective by providing a framework for cooperation in the conservation and management of those resources.

It promotes good order in the oceans through the effective management and conservation of high seas resources by establishing, among other things, detailed minimum international standards for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; ensuring that measures taken for the conservation and management of those stocks in areas under national jurisdiction and in the adjacent high seas are compatible and coherent; ensuring that there are effective mechanisms for compliance and enforcement of those measures on the high seas; and recognizing the special requirements of developing States in relation to conservation and management as well as the development and participation in fisheries for the two types of stocks mentioned above.

The Agreement was adopted on 4 August 1995 by the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and opened for signature on 4 December 1995. It remained open for signature until 4 December 1996 and was signed by 59 States and entities.

The requirements for the entry into force of the Agreement were met on 11 November 2001, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta deposited an instrument of accession to the Agreement with the Secretary-General.

The instrument was the thirtieth instrument of ratification or accession deposited. The Agreement entered into force on 11 December 2001, i.e., 30 days after the date of deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification or accession, in accordance with article 40 (1) of the Agreement. It has 87 parties

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