International policy

International cooperation for the sustainable use of natural resources continues to be an important issue in international fora. Such cooperation is of particular importance for Iceland, which depends for its livelihood on the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. Fisheries are the mainstay of the Icelandic economy. In recent years, the oceans have received growing attention in international cooperation.

Iceland has long been active in efforts to protect the health of the marine environment, including through the UN Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. Iceland was instrumental in initiating this programme and will continue to support its effective implementation. The same applies to the International Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), which entered into force in October 2003. The convention is a key instrument in protecting the marine environment and biological diversity. The Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, which was finalised in 1995, is also of paramount importance as it strengthens the framework that was set up by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and management of such stocks by regional fisheries management organisations.

1 Regional cooperation regarding the environment

Iceland attaches great importance to regional cooperation regarding the environment. The activities of the Arctic Council are of particular importance in this respect, as the Council provides the main venue for the member states to promote sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. In addition, the work of the Nordic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on environmental issues, is extremely valuable. Iceland is party to various important conventions on the environment, among them the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic and the Bern Agreement on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

2 Regional cooperation regarding sustainable utilisation of marine resources

Regional fisheries management organisations play a key role in securing the conservation and sustainable use of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. In this respect, Iceland cooperates actively with neighboring countries to ensure conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in nearby waters. This cooperation is carried out within regional organizations such as the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is important for co-operation in marine science, which is an essential basis for responsible management.

3 Iceland and the United Nations (UN)

Iceland plays an active role in discussions at the UN General Assembly on ocean affairs. Iceland welcomes the growing attention the oceans are receiving in the General Assembly. Iceland emphasizes that the focus of the discussion should be on specific issues that have global implications, and not on issues that fall within the purview of the sovereign rights of States. The General Assembly should address issues that are global in nature and can only be resolved through global co-operation. Such issues include marine pollution which respects no boundaries and must therefore be met with global action, and issues related to setting a level playing field for the fisheries sector which encourages sustainable fisheries globally, such as the need to remove fisheries subsidies. Conservation and sustainable utilisation of living marine resources in specific regions and areas is, on the other hand, a national and regional matter and should be handled by competent national and regional bodies.

The UN University’;s Fisheries Training Programme is operated in Iceland.

4 The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

The Fisheries department of FAO and the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) are important regarding international fisheries matters. Iceland's participation in committees and meetings within the FAO is important. Among the projects in progress are international co-operation to combat Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and recently guidelines for deep-sea fisheries were formulated which will contribute greatly to the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.

5 Law of the Sea

Throughout the years, Iceland has taken an active part in international negotiations on the Law of the Sea. Three institutions were established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which entered into force on 16 November 1994. One of these institutions is the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which has adopted its rules of procedure and scientific and technical guidelines and has now begun to receive information from coastal states regarding the limits of the continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles and will return its recommendations.

6 Climate change

Iceland ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. Icelandic authorities believe that technological developments can play an important role in tackling climate change, not least in the field of energy. The use of available clean technologies should therefore be used much more widely. A comprehensive report on the impacts of climate change in the Arctic was delivered during the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council 2002-2004.

See more on the effects of climate change on the marine ecosystem in Iceland here.

7 Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

Iceland actively participates in the cooperation of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and currently holds a seat on the CITES Standing Committee.

For further information on Icelands foreign policy see the web site of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture