Common Contracts

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

November 7th, 2006

• Filed
  November 7th, 2006

During the intersessional period an issue arose that was of sufficient importance that the Secretariat and Advisory Committee felt it necessary to consult the Parties. This concerned applications for observership of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. Regardless of the precise issue, this raised the problem of how intersessional consultation should occur. Article X e) of the Agreement requires the Secretariat “to invite the attention of the Meeting of the Parties (MoP) to matters pertaining to the objectives of this Agreement”. However, neither the Agreement nor the ‘Rules of Procedure for the Meeting of the Parties’ provide a formal process for the Secretariat or the Advisory Committee to consult with the Parties during the intersessional period. In order that both bodies may continue to drive forward the Agreement it is recommended that a process for both formal and informal consultations during the intersessional period be agreed to by the Parties.