It is the first global convention to concentrate on conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems. Developed countries are encouraged to provide financial resources to developing country parties for them to meet the terms of the Convention CAFF discussion paper Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Concluded in Bonn in June 1979, the Convention came into force on 1 November 1983. It provides a framework for the conservation of migratory species and their habitats by means of strict prosecution and international agreements. Appendix II species are conferred no special conservation, but parties which are Range States are required to conclude legally binding Agreements for their conservation. This applies to the 14 species of albatross currently listed on Appendix II, for which memoranda are currently being prepared.
Range States can sign Agreements without having to formally ratify the Convention.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, supported by 75 countries, adopted a resolution to reduce to insignificant levels the incidental mortality of seabirds in all longline fisheries in the world. The International Pacific Halibut Commission introduced legislation to ensure that seabird mortality levels remain low. The Convention for the Conservation of the Southern Bluefin Tuna has established the Ecologically Related Species Working Group specifically to monitor the situation.