Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 11 December 2018          [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.35 and A/73/L.35/Add.1)]       73/124.  Oceans and the law of the sea        The General Assembly,    Reaffirming its annual resolutions on the law of the sea and on oceans and the  law of the sea, including resolution 72/73 of 5 December 2017, as well as other  relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea  (the Convention),1     Recalling, in this regard, resolution 72/249 of 24 December 2017 on an  international legally binding instrument under the Convention on the conservation  and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national  jurisdiction,     Underscoring the importance of the work undertaken by the intergovernmental  conference to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument under  the Convention on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity  of areas beyond national jurisdiction,    Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General,2 the reports on the work  of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole on the Regular Process for Global  Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including  Socioeconomic Aspects (the Regular Process)3 and of the United Nations Open-ended  Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (the Informal  Consultative Process) at its nineteenth meeting4 and the report of the twenty-eighth  Meeting of States Parties to the Convention,5     Recognizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the  strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations  __________________    1  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363.    2  A/73/68 and A/73/368.    3  A/73/74 and A/73/373.    4  A/73/124.    5  SPLOS/324.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 2/58    in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of  the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with  the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the  United Nations, as well as to the sustainable development of the oceans and seas,     Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention, and  reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all  activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as  the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector,  and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations  Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,6     Noting with satisfaction that, in the outcome document of the United Nations  Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to  22 June 2012, entitled “The future we want”,7 as endorsed by the General Assembly  in resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, States recognized that oceans, seas and coastal  areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are  critical to sustaining it, and that international law, as reflected in the Convention,  provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans  and their resources, and stressed the importance of the conservation and sustainable  use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable development,  including through their contributions to poverty eradication, sustained economic  growth, food security and creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent work, while  at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment and addressing  the impacts of climate change,     Recalling that, in “The future we want”, States underscored that broad public  participation and access to information and judicial and administrative proceedings  were essential to the promotion of sustainable development and that sustainable  development required the meaningful involvement and active participation of  regional, national and subnational legislatures and judiciaries, and all major groups,  and, in this regard, that they agreed to work more closely with major groups and other  stakeholders and encouraged their active participation, as appropriate, in processes  that contribute to decision-making, planning and implementation of policies and  programmes for sustainable development at all levels,     Recalling also the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the  adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, held from 25 to 27 September 2015,  entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”,  as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, and  in this regard reaffirming the commitment to conserve and sustainably use the oceans,  seas and marine resources for sustainable development, as reflected in Goal 14 of the  outcome document,     Recognizing the important contribution of the conservation and sustainable use  of oceans, seas and marine resources to the achievement of the sustainable  development goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,     Recalling its resolution 71/312 of 6 July 2017 in which it endorsed the  declaration entitled “Our ocean, our future: call for action” adopted by the high-level  United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable  Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine  resources for sustainable development, held from 5 to 9 June 2017, coinciding with  __________________    6  Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro,  3−14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication,  Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II.    7  Resolution 66/288, annex.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   3/58 18-21627    World Oceans Day on 8 June, and in this regard affirming the important role of the  declaration in demonstrating the collective will to take action to conserve and  sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development,    Recognizing the important contributions of the partnership dialogues and  voluntary commitments made in the context of the high-level United Nations  Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 to  the effective and timely implementation of Goal 14,    Recognizing also paragraphs 64 and 65 of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of  the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted by the  Conference, which was held from 13 to 16 July 2015,8     Welcoming the ocean-related outcomes of the third session of the United Nations  Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, especially  the resolutions on marine litter and microplastics9 and on addressing water pollution  to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, 10  and the resolution on the role,  functions  and  modalities  for  United  Nations  Environment  Programme  implementation of the Samoa Pathway as a means of facilitating achievement of the  Sustainable Development Goals,11    Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to  be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral  approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the  national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support  and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and  observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable  development of the oceans and seas,     Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity- building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially  developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked  developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African  States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable  development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and  regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, while  recognizing the need to also address the particular challenges faced by developing  middle-income countries,    Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international  organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels,  through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national  capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their  resources,     Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing  to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping  to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable  development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained  research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such  knowledge to management and decision-making,   __________________    8  Resolution 69/313, annex.    9  UNEP/EA.3/Res.7.    10  UNEP/EA.3/Res.10.    11  See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25  (A/71/25), annex, resolution 2/4.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 4/58      Reiterating its deep concern at the serious adverse impacts on the marine  environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems and their  physical and biogenic structure, including coral reefs, cold water habitats,  hydrothermal vents and seamounts, of certain human activities,     Emphasizing the need for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships,     Expressing deep concern at the adverse economic, social and environmental  impacts of the physical alteration and destruction of marine habitats that may result  from land-based and coastal development activities, in particular those land  reclamation activities that are carried out in a manner that has a detrimental impact  on the marine environment,     Reiterating its serious concern at the current and projected adverse effects of  climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment and marine  biodiversity, and emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues,     Noting with concern, in this regard, the findings by the World Meteorological  Organization, in its annual Greenhouse gas bulletin, that, in 2016, carbon dioxide  levels in the atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million, and that changes in its  concentration have never been recorded as happening, as based on measurements of  carbon dioxide from ice core records, as fast as in the past 150 years, and the findings  in its Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017 that global mean  temperatures in 2017 were about 1.1°C above the 1850 to 1900 average,    Noting with concern also that the World Meteorological Organization, in its  Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017, highlighted that the world also  continued to see rising sea levels, with some acceleration, and increasing  concentrations of greenhouse gases, while the cryosphere continued its contraction,  with global sea ice shrinking,    Expressing concern that climate change continues to increase the severity and  incidence of coral bleaching throughout tropical seas and weakens the ability of reefs  to withstand ocean acidification, which could have serious and irreversible negative  effects on marine organisms, particularly corals, as well as to withstand other  pressures, including overfishing and pollution,     Reiterating its deep concern at the vulnerability of the environment and the  fragile ecosystems of the polar regions, including the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic ice  cap, particularly affected by the projected adverse effects of climate change and ocean  acidification,     Recognizing the need for a more integrated and ecosystem-based approach to,  further study of and the promotion of measures for enhanced cooperation,  coordination and collaboration relating to the conservation and sustainable use of  marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction,     Recognizing also that the realization of the benefits of the Convention could be  enhanced by international cooperation, technical assistance and advanced scientific  knowledge, as well as by funding and capacity-building,     Recognizing further that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical  to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the  protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping  industry, and encouraging further efforts towards electronic charting, which not only  provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship  movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable  fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation  of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, and noting that, under the   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   5/58 18-21627    International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 12 ships on international  voyages are required to carry an electronic chart display and information system, in  accordance with the implementation schedule as set out in that Convention,     Recognizing that ocean data buoys deployed and operated in accordance with  international law are critical for improving understanding of weather, climate and  ecosystems, and that certain types of ocean data buoys contribute to saving lives by  detecting tsunamis, and reiterating its serious concern at intentional and unintentional  damage to such buoys,     Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage,  including shipwrecks and watercraft, holds essential information on the history of  humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and  preserved,     Recognizing the duty of States under article 303, paragraph 1, of the Convention  to protect objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea and to  cooperate for this purpose,    Expressing concern, in this regard, at various threats posed to such objects,  including their destruction as well as the illicit trafficking in such objects,    Recognizing that illicit trafficking in wildlife is, in some cases, committed by  transnational organized criminal groups using maritime routes, contributes to damage  to ecosystems and livelihoods and requires enhanced regional and global cooperation  and coordination in response, in accordance with international law,    Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime  committed at sea, including illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic  substances, the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in  firearms, and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery  at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other  maritime interests, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on  international trade, energy security and the global economy resulting from such  activities,    Reiterating the importance of the fair treatment of crew members and its  influence on maritime safety,     Recognizing that fibre-optic submarine cables transmit most of the world’s data  and communications and hence are vitally important to the global economy and the  national security of all States, conscious that these cables are susceptible to  intentional and accidental damage from shipping and other activities and that the  maintenance, including the repair, of these cables is important, noting that these  matters have been brought to the attention of States at various workshops and  seminars, and conscious of the need for States to adopt national laws and regulations  to protect submarine cables and render their wilful damage or damage by culpable  negligence punishable offences,     Noting the importance of the delineation of the outer limits of the continental  shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that it is in the broader interest of the  international community that coastal States with a continental shelf beyond  200 nautical miles submit information on the outer limits of the continental shelf  beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf  (the Commission), and welcoming the submissions to the Commission by a  considerable number of States Parties to the Convention on the outer limits of their  continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, that the Commission has continued to  __________________    12  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1184, No. 18961.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 6/58    fulfil its role, including of making recommendations to coastal States, and that the  summaries of recommendations are being made publicly available,13     Noting also that some coastal States may continue to face particular challenges  in relation to preparing and presenting submissions to the Commission,     Noting further that financial and technical assistance may be sought by  developing countries for activities in relation to preparing and presenting submissions  to the Commission, including additional information with respect to submissions and  revised or new submissions, including through the voluntary trust fund established by  the General Assembly in its resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 for the purpose of  facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States,  in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and  compliance with article 76 of the Convention, as well as other accessible international  assistance,    Reaffirming the importance of the work of the Commission for coastal States  and for the international community,     Recognizing that practical difficulties can arise when there is a considerable  delay between the preparation of submissions and their consideration by the  Commission, including in retaining expertise up to and during the consideration of  the submissions by the Commission,     Recognizing also the significant workload of the Commission in view of the  large number of submissions already received and a number of submissions yet to be  received, which places significant demands and challenges on its members and the  secretariat as provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations through the  Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of  the Secretariat (the Division),    Noting with concern the projected timetable of the work of the Commission on  the submissions already received by it and those yet to be received, and in this regard  noting the decisions of the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to request the  Commission to consider, in coordination with the secretariat, within the existing  resources made available to the Secretariat, that the Commission, and its  subcommissions meeting simultaneously as far as possible, meet at United Nations  Headquarters for up to 26 weeks but not less than an intended minimum of 21 weeks  a year, distributed in such a way that the Commission determines to be the most  effective, and that no two sessions be sequential,14     Recognizing the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions  under the Convention expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and maintain its high  level of quality and expertise,     Expressing concern about the implications of the workload of the Commission  for the conditions of service of its members,    Recalling, in this regard, the decisions of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth  Meetings of States Parties to the Convention regarding the conditions of service of  the members of the Commission,15     Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 of 12 December 2002 and  58/240 of 23 December 2003, to establish a regular process under the United Nations  for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including  __________________    13  Available from the web page of the Commission maintained by the Division for Ocean Affairs  and the Law of the Sea.    14  See SPLOS/229 and SPLOS/303.    15  SPLOS/286 and SPLOS/303.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   7/58 18-21627    socioeconomic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional  assessments, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 16  and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end,    Recalling further its decisions, in resolution 65/37 A of 7 December 2010,  resolution 66/231 of 24 December 2011, resolution 70/235 of 23 December 2015,  resolution 71/257 of 23 December 2016 and resolution 72/73, regarding the Regular  Process, as established under the United Nations and accountable to the General  Assembly,    Recalling that the Division was designated to provide secretariat support to the  Regular Process, including its established institutions,     Reaffirming the cross-cutting role of ocean science in Sustainable Development  Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,    Reaffirming also its decision, in resolution 72/73, to proclaim the United  Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development for the 10-year period  beginning on 1 January 2021, within existing structures and available resources,    Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work of the Informal  Consultative Process established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 of  24 November 1999 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs  by the Assembly,     Noting the continuously growing responsibilities of the Secretary-General under  the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular  resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33, 65/37 A,  65/37 B of 4 April 2011, 66/231, 67/78 of 11 December 2012, 68/70 of 9 December  2013, 69/245 of 29 December 2014, 70/235, 71/257, 72/73 and 72/249 and in this  context the unprecedented substantial increase in activities of the Division, in  particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional  outputs and servicing of meetings, the provision of technical assistance and capacity- building, the need for enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and the  role of the Division in carrying out the functions in resolution 72/249, as the  secretariat of the Regular Process, in relation to the functions as focal point for  UN-Oceans and in relation to support for the implementation by Member States of  the oceans-related Sustainable Development Goals in the 2030 Agenda for  Sustainable Development,    Reaffirming the importance of the work of the International Seabed Authority  (the Authority) in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement relating to the  Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea  of 10 December 1982 (the Part XI Agreement),17     Reaffirming also the importance of the work of the International Tribunal for  the Law of the Sea (the Tribunal) in accordance with the Convention,        I      Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments      1.  Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the vital importance  of preserving its integrity;   __________________    16  See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,  26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and  corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex.    17  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 8/58      2.  Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to fully achieve the  goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Part XI  Agreement;17    3.  Calls upon States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of  universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of  the Provisions of 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 (the Fish Stocks Agreement);18     4.  Calls upon States to harmonize their national legislation with the  provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and  instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure  also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing,  ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the  legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State  concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements;     5.  Calls upon States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to  deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as  provided for in the Convention, preferably using the generally accepted and most  recent geodetic datums;     6.  Notes, in this regard, the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to  improve the existing geographic information system for the deposit by States of charts  and geographical coordinates concerning maritime zones, including lines of  delimitation, submitted pursuant to the Convention, and to give due publicity thereto,  also notes the ongoing cooperation and progress achieved in the development by the  International Hydrographic Organization, in cooperation with the Division, of the  technical standards for the collection, storage and dissemination of the information  deposited, in order to ensure compatibility among geographic information systems,  electronic nautical charts and other systems, and re-emphasizes the importance of the  prompt completion of these efforts;    7.  Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international  bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and  historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon  States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the  appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and  conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to  discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism;    8.  Acknowledges the recent deposit of instruments of ratification and  acceptance of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural  Heritage,19 calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties  to that Convention, and notes in particular the rules annexed to that Convention,  which address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of  management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among  Parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag;         II      Capacity-building      9.  Emphasizes that capacity-building is essential to ensure that States,  especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries,  __________________    18  Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924.    19  Ibid., vol. 2562, No. 45694.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   9/58 18-21627    landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal  African States, are able to fully implement the Convention, benefit from the  sustainable development of the oceans and seas and participate fully in global and  regional forums on ocean affairs and the law of the sea;     10. Also emphasizes the need to address the particular challenges faced by  developing middle-income countries through capacity-building;    11.  Recalls, in this regard, that, in “The future we want”,7 States recognized  the importance of building the capacity of developing countries to be able to benefit  from the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and seas and their resources,  and in this regard emphasized the need for cooperation in marine scientific research  to implement the provisions of the Convention and the outcomes of the major summits  on sustainable development, as well as for the transfer of technology, taking into  account the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology adopted by  the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United  Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-second  session, in 2003;     12. Emphasizes the need for international cooperation for capacity-building,  including cross-sectoral cooperation, at national, regional and global levels, to  address, in particular, gaps in capacity-building in ocean affairs and the law of the  sea, including marine science;     13. Calls for capacity-building initiatives to take into account the needs of  developing countries, and calls upon States, international organizations and donor  agencies to make efforts to ensure the sustainability of such initiatives;    14. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep  their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States,  particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and  technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the  objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the  oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind  the interests and needs of landlocked developing States;     15. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries,  in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as  well as coastal African States, to improve aids to navigation and search and rescue  services, hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including  electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity  with support from international financial institutions and the donor community;    16. Calls upon States and international institutions, including through  bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and  fellowships, to continue to support and strengthen capacity-building activities, in  particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter  alia, training personnel to develop and enhance relevant expertise, providing the  necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound  technologies;     17. Also calls upon States and international institutions, including through  bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and  fellowships, to support and strengthen capacity-building activities in developing  countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States,  to develop their maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to  establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement  capabilities to promote effective compliance with and implementation and  enforcement of their responsibilities under international law;    A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 10/58      18. Further calls upon States and international institutions, including through  bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes, technical partnerships and  fellowships, to develop and strengthen capacity-building activities in and to transfer  to developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island  developing States, on mutually agreed terms, and taking into account the Criteria and  Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, environmentally sound  technologies to study and minimize the impacts of ocean acidification;     19. Notes the international scientific cooperation within the Global Ocean  Acidification Observing Network and its efforts in building scientific capacity for  ocean acidification monitoring, research and experimentation, including through the  Pier2Peer scientific mentorship programme;    20. Emphasizes the need to focus on strengthening South-South cooperation  as an additional way to build capacity and as a cooperative mechanism to further  enable countries to set their own priorities and needs and to foster actions to  implement such cooperation;    21. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and  Policy, a cooperative undertaking by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy of the  University of Virginia School of Law, the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and  Maritime Law, the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland, the Max Planck Institute for  Comparative Public Law and International Law, the Netherlands Institute for the Law  of the Sea of Utrecht University and the Centre for International Law of the National  University of Singapore, which enjoys associate sponsorship of the Korea Maritime  Institute and the Ankara University Research Center of the Sea and Maritime Law  and offers a prominent three-week summer course annually in Rhodes, Greece, and  has graduated 947 students from 123 countries;    22. Also recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to capacity- building in the field of the law of the sea by the Summer Academy of the International  Foundation for the Law of the Sea at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea;     23. Further recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the  Korea Maritime Institute to the trust fund to support the internship programmes at the  Tribunal since 2011 and its continued efforts, in cooperation with the Expo 2012  Yeosu Korea Foundation, to provide education and training for capacity-building of  developing countries through the Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea programme;    24. Recognizes the holding of the regional course on the continental shelf in  Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, jointly organized in 2018 by the African  Institute of International Law and the University of the Faroe Islands, and its  important contribution to capacity-building, particularly in developing countries;    25. Also recognizes the importance of the work of the Malta-based  International Maritime Law Institute of the International Maritime Organization, as a  centre of education and training of specialists in maritime law, including government  legal advisers and other high-level officials, mainly from developing States, confirms  its effective capacity-building role in the field of international maritime law, shipping  law and marine environmental law, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations  and financial institutions to make voluntary financial contributions to the budget of  the Institute which runs annually;     26. Further recognizes the importance of the World Maritime University of  the International Maritime Organization, which celebrated its thirty-fifth anniversary  in 2018, as a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, confirms its  effective capacity-building role in the field of maritime transportation, policy,  administration, management, safety, security and environmental protection, as well   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   11/58 18-21627    as its role in the international exchange and transfer of knowledge, welcomes the  inauguration in 2018 of the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean  Institute, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and other bodies to make  voluntary financial contributions to the University’s Endowment Fund;    27. Welcomes ongoing activities for capacity-building so as to address  maritime security and protection of the marine environment of developing States, and  encourages States and international financial institutions to provide additional  funding for capacity-building programmes, including for transfer of technology,  including through the International Maritime Organization and other competent  international organizations;     28. Recognizes the ongoing activities of the secretariat of the Convention on  Biological Diversity in coordinating capacity-building efforts to support developing  States in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas;20     29. Also recognizes the considerable need to provide sustained capacity- building assistance, including on financial and technical aspects, by relevant  international organizations and donors to developing States, with a view to further  strengthening their capacity to take effective measures against the multiple facets of  international criminal activities at sea, in line with the relevant international  instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational  Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;21     30. Further recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to  raise awareness of and support the implementation of improved waste management  practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the  impact of marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities and  marine debris and nutrient pollution;22     31. Recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the  least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island  developing States, as well as coastal African States, in implementing the Convention,  urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental  organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons, to  make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in  resolutions 55/7, 57/141, and 64/71 of 4 December 2009, established for this purpose,  and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed; 23     32. Acknowledges the importance of capacity-building for developing States,  in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small  island developing States, as well as coastal African States, for the protection of the  marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources;     33. Recognizes that promoting the voluntary transfer of technology is an  essential aspect of building capacity in marine science;    34. Encourages States to use the Intergovernmental Oceanographic  Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, and  recalls the important role of the secretariat of that Commission in the implementation  and promotion of the Criteria and Guidelines;  __________________    20  See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I, and  Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity decision XII/23,  paras. 19−22.    21  United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574.    22  See 2012 Guidelines for the Development of a Regional Reception Facilities Plan, International  Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.221(63).    23  See A/70/74/Add.1, para. 137.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 12/58      35. Also encourages States to consider additional opportunities for capacity- building at the regional level;     36. Welcomes the efforts of the Tribunal in holding regional workshops;    37. Notes with satisfaction the publication of the first edition of the Global  Ocean Science Report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;    38. Notes with appreciation the adoption by the Assembly of the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the new Capacity Development  Strategy (2015–2021), which takes into account that capacity development is a  fundamental tenet of the mission of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;     39. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution of the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic Commission to capacity-building through its Ocean Teacher Academy  training system, which has provided training in ocean data and information  management, and notes the setting up of the Ocean Teacher Global Academy,  operating through a network of regional training centres, which builds capacity and  promotes expertise available in developing countries;     40. Welcomes the establishment by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session of the Group of Experts on  Capacity Development;    41. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Division to compile information  on capacity-building initiatives, requests the Secretary-General to continue to  regularly update such information provided by States, international organizations and  donor agencies and include it in his annual report to the General Assembly, invites  States, international organizations and donor agencies to submit such information to  the Secretary-General for this purpose, and requests the Division to post the  information on capacity-building initiatives from the annual report of the Secretary- General on the website of the Division in an easily accessible manner so as to  facilitate the matching of capacity-building needs with opportunities;     42. Calls upon States to continue to assist developing States, and especially  the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal  African States, at the bilateral and, where appropriate, multilateral levels, in the  preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the  outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the  assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State, and  recalls that coastal States can make requests to the Commission for scientific and  technical advice in the preparation of data for their submissions, in accordance with  article 3 of annex II to the Convention;    43. Recognizes the importance of the trust fund established pursuant to  resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the  Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and  small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, and  for the purpose of providing assistance to developing States to meet the travel and  daily subsistence allowance costs associated with meeting with the Commission when  their submissions are being examined and upon the invitation of the Commission, 24  in accordance with paragraph 31 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the  trust fund, recognizes also the need for assistance in the preparation of additional  information with respect to submissions and revised or new submissions and in  maintaining critical capacity during the period from the submission by a coastal  developing State of the particulars of the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond  200 nautical miles to the Commission up to the final stages of its examination by the  __________________    24  See resolution 70/235, para. 37.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   13/58 18-21627    Commission, and amends, as set out in the annex to the present resolution, sections 1,  2, 4 and 5 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the trust fund;25     44. Calls upon the Division to continue to disseminate information on relevant  procedures related to the trust fund established for the purpose of facilitating the  preparation of submissions to the Commission and to continue its dialogue with  potential beneficiaries with a view to providing financial support to developing  countries for activities to facilitate their submissions in accordance with the  requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure26 and  the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission; 27     45. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant  international organizations and institutions, to continue to support training and other  activities to assist developing States in the preparation and presentation of their  submissions to the Commission;     46. Recognizes with appreciation the contribution of the Division to capacity- building activities at the national and regional levels, in particular the work of the  Division in promoting wider appreciation of the Convention and in assisting with its  implementation, through the provision of information, advice and assistance to States  and intergovernmental organizations, as well as the support of the Division for  Member State implementation of the relevant parts of the 2030 Agenda for  Sustainable Development;28     47. Notes the partnership between the Division and the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic Commission on a training programme on marine scientific research  under the Convention, and encourages States, relevant international organizations and  other donors to consider supporting the initiative;    48. Invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies,  intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and  juridical persons to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including  by making earmarked voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the  Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the promotion of  international law, and expresses its appreciation to those that have contributed;    49. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution to the capacity- building of developing countries and the promotion of the law of the sea made by the  Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, which  was established by the General Assembly in 1981 in honour of the first President of  the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, and recalls in this regard  the provisions of its resolutions on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in  the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law; 29     50. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the  voluntary trust fund for the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on  the Law of the Sea, notes that there are insufficient funds available to grant a regular  award for the next fellowship session, expresses its commitment to further promote  the importance of the Fellowship, and urges States, international financial  institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental  organizations and natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial  contributions in support of the Fellowship;   __________________    25  Resolution 55/7, annex II, resolution 58/240, annex, and resolution 70/235, annex.    26  CLCS/40/Rev.1.    27  CLCS/11, CLCS/11/Corr.1, CLCS/11/Add.1 and CLCS/11/Add.1/Corr.1.    28  Resolution 70/1.    29  Resolutions 69/117, para. 8, 70/116, para. 4, 71/139, para. 7, and 72/115, paras. 7 and 8.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 14/58      51. Recognizes with appreciation the important contribution of the United  Nations-Nippon Foundation of Japan Fellowship Programme to human resources  development for developing Member States in the field of ocean affairs and the law  of the sea and related disciplines, as well as the fostering of global interlinkages and  continuing capacity development through the alumni programme, and also recognizes  with appreciation additional fellowship awards, as well as the new United Nations- Nippon Foundation Sustainable Ocean Programme, which provides for additional  Critical Needs Fellowship awards, Thematic Fellowship awards and a training  programme to reinforce capacity in the context of the intergovernmental conference  on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention  on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological  diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;    52. Encourages competent international organizations, the United Nations  Development Programme and international financial institutions and funds to  consider expanding their programmes within their respective fields of competence for  assistance to developing countries and to coordinate their efforts, and recognizes the  funding available from the Global Environment Facility, as well as other funds  allocated for projects relating to oceans;         III      Meeting of States Parties      53. Welcomes the report of the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to the  Convention;5    54. Notes that the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties, convened by the  Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 72/73, is to be resumed on 15 January 2019,  and requests the Secretary-General to provide full conference services, including  documentation, as required;    55. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twenty-ninth Meeting of  States Parties to the Convention from 17 to 19 June 2019, with full conference  services, including documentation, as required;         IV      Peaceful settlement of disputes      56. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the  Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV  of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal  concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Part XI  Agreement;     57. Pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International  Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law  of the sea;     58. Notes that States parties to an international agreement relating to the  purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International  Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that  agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and also notes the  possibility, provided for in the Statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit  disputes to a chamber;     59. Encourages States Parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to  consider making a written declaration, choosing from the means set out in article 287  of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or  application of the Convention and the Part XI Agreement, bearing in mind the   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   15/58 18-21627    comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in  Part XV of the Convention;     60. Notes the successful completion of the first compulsory conciliation under  annex V to the Convention, pursuant to section 3 of Part XV, which assisted the  parties in reaching agreement on a treaty establishing their maritime boundaries, 30  and encourages States to consider all means to peacefully settle disputes in  accordance with international law;        V      The Area      61. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration and standardization  by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and  procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, for, inter  alia, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and for the  prevention of damage to the flora and fauna of the marine environment from harmful  effects that may arise from activities in the Area;     62. Notes that, as at 31 July 2018, the Authority had approved 29 plans of work  for exploration for marine mineral resources in the Area and had entered into 15-year  contracts with 17 contractors for exploration for polymetallic nodules, 7 contractors  for exploration for polymetallic sulphides and 5 contractors for exploration for cobalt- rich ferromanganese crusts;31     63. Welcomes the progress of the work of the Authority on draft regulations  for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, takes note of the development of a  road map for the adoption and approval of such regulations, and encourages the  Authority to continue its work on the draft regulations as a matter of priority and to  provide sufficient opportunities and time for substantive consideration and discussion  of successive drafts, and emphasizes the ongoing need for openness and transparency;    64. Recalls the relevance of the advisory opinion on the responsibilities and  obligations of States sponsoring persons and entities with respect to activities in the  Area, issued by the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the Tribunal on 1 February 2011;32     65.  Takes note of the public consultations organized in 2018 by two sponsoring  States with regard to the environmental impact assessments submitted to the  International Seabed Authority, ahead of technical tests to be held in 2019 in the  respective contract areas of their sponsored contractors in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone;    66. Recognizes the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the  Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific  research and protection of the marine environment in the Area, respectively;    67. Welcomes the decision of the Assembly, at the twenty-fourth session of the  Authority, to adopt the strategic plan of the Authority for the period 2019–2023,  which provides a uniform basis for the strengthening of existing working practices of  the Authority;33     68. Encourages the Authority to continue its work towards the standardization  of marine bathymetric information collected in the Area, in cooperation with relevant  international  organizations, including the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic  __________________    30  See A/73/368, para. 19.    31  See ISBA/24/A/2, para. 80.    32  See ISBA/17/A/9.    33  See ISBA/24/A/10.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 16/58    Commission and the International Hydrographic Organization, particularly under the  Seabed 2030 project;34     69. Welcomes the efforts of the Authority to make progress on the development  of regional environmental management plans in other specific areas in the Area, in  particular where there are currently exploration contracts, notes in this regard the  workshops held in Qingdao, China, in May 2018, and in Szczecin, Poland, in June  2018, respectively, on the development of regional environmental management plans  for cobalt-rich crusts in the north-west Pacific and for polymetallic sulphides in  mid-ocean ridges, also notes that a further workshop, dedicated to the review of the  status of implementation of the environmental management plan for the Clarion- Clipperton Zone, was scheduled for the second half of 2018, and encourages the  Authority to make further progress on the development of regional environmental  plans;35         VI      Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal      70. Commends the progress in the work of the Authority;     71. Also commends the work of the Tribunal since its establishment;     72. Appeals to all States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed  contributions to the Tribunal in full and on time, and also appeals to States Parties in  arrears with their contributions to fulfil their obligations without delay;     73. Expresses serious concern about the number of States Parties to the  Convention in arrears with their assessed contributions to the Authority, appeals to all  States Parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority  in full and on time, and urges them to fulfil their obligations without delay, in  particular those States whose exercise of voting rights has been suspended by virtue  of article 184 of the Convention, and invites the Secretary-General of the Authority  to continue his efforts to recover arrears, including bilateral efforts;    74. Notes that the Assembly of the Authority has endorsed the revised schedule  of meetings for 2018 and 2019, including two meetings of the Council of the  Authority to be held in February–March and July 2019, respectively, and that  Assembly meetings are now held following the Council meetings in July, for the  convenience of States Parties;    75. Welcomes the improvement in the level of attendance at the Assembly in  2018, compared to 2017, and urges all members of the Authority to participate in the  meetings of the Assembly;    76. Also welcomes the adoption by the Assembly of the terms of reference for  the voluntary trust fund to support the participation of members of the Council from  developing States in meetings of the Council, expresses its appreciation to the  contractors and observers that have made contributions to the voluntary trust fund,  and encourages Member States, observers, contractors and other stakeholders to  contribute financially to the voluntary trust fund;36     77. Expresses its serious concern over the negative balance of the voluntary  trust fund established pursuant to the decision of the Authority at its eighth session 37  for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Legal and  Technical Commission from developing countries and the members of the Finance  __________________    34  See ISBA/23/A/2.    35  See ISBA/24/C/3, ISBA/24/C/8, ISBA/24/C/22 and ISBA/24/C/9/Add.1.    36  See ISBA/23/A/13, ISBA/24/A/2 and ISBA/24/A/11.    37  See ISBA/8/A/11.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   17/58 18-21627    Committee from developing countries in the meetings of the Commission and of the  Committee, expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the  voluntary trust fund, and strongly encourages States, observers, contractors and other  stakeholders to make contributions to this voluntary trust fund in order to ensure the  full participation of all members of the Legal and Technical Commission and the  Finance Committee;    78. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the  endowment fund for marine scientific research in the Area established by the  Authority at its twelfth session,38 for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the  conduct of collaborative marine scientific research in the Area, and encourages States,  observers, contractors and other stakeholders to make additional contributions to  this fund;    79. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding  to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Tribunal 39  and to the  Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority; 40     80. Emphasizes the importance of the rules and staff regulations of the  Tribunal in promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the  Professional and higher categories, and welcomes the actions taken by the Tribunal  in observance of those rules and regulations;     81. Calls upon coastal States that have not yet done so to deposit a copy of  charts or lists of geographical coordinates showing the outer limit lines of the  continental shelf with the Secretary-General of the Authority, as provided for in  article 84, paragraph 2, of the Convention;        VII      The continental shelf and the work of the Commission      82. Recalls that, in accordance with article 76, paragraph 8, of the Convention,  information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the  baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be submitted  by the coastal State to the Commission set up under annex II to the Convention on  the basis of equitable geographical representation, that the Commission shall make  recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer  limits of their continental shelf, and that the limits of the shelf established by a coastal  State on the basis of these recommendations shall be final and binding;     83. Also recalls that, in accordance with article 77, paragraph 3, of the  Convention, the rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf do not depend  on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation;     84. Notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to the  Convention have submitted information to the Commission regarding the  establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles,  in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the  Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties  to the Convention contained in SPLOS/72, paragraph (a);    85. Also notes with satisfaction that a considerable number of States Parties to  the Convention have submitted to the Secretary-General, pursuant to the decision of  the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, 41 preliminary information  indicative of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and a  __________________    38  ISBA/12/A/11.    39  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37925.    40  Ibid., vol. 2214, No. 39357.    41  See SPLOS/183.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 18/58    description of the status of preparation and intended date of submission in accordance  with the requirements of article 76 of the Convention and with the Rules of Procedure  and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission, and notes with  satisfaction that additional submissions referred to in preliminary information have  been filed with the Commission;     86. Further notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the  Commission42 and that it is giving current consideration to a number of submissions  that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental  shelf beyond 200 nautical miles;    87. Takes note of the 30 recommendations made by the Commission on the  submissions of a number of coastal States, and welcomes the fact that summaries of  recommendations are being made publicly available in accordance with paragraph 11.3  of annex III to the Rules of Procedure of the Commission;     88. Notes that the consideration by the Commission of submissions by coastal  States in accordance with article 76 of and annex II to the Convention is without  prejudice to the application of other parts of the Convention by States Parties;     89. Also notes the considerable number of submissions yet to be considered  by the Commission and the demands that this places on its members and the  secretariat as provided by the Division, and emphasizes the need to ensure that the  Commission can perform its functions expeditiously, efficiently and effectively and  maintain its high level of quality and expertise;     90. Takes note with appreciation of the decision of the Commission at its  forty-fourth session to continue, during its five-year term of office, to meet for a total  of 21 weeks per year by holding three sessions of seven weeks each, and that no two  sessions would be sequential,43 and further notes that more than nine subcommissions  are actively considering submissions;44     91. Notes that the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in its decisions  regarding the conditions of service of the members of the Commission, 45 reaffirmed  the obligation of States under the Convention whose experts were serving on the  Commission to defray the expenses of the experts they had nominated while the  experts are in performance of Commission duties, including the provision of medical  coverage, and urged those States to do their utmost to ensure the full participation of  those experts in the work of the Commission, including the meetings of  subcommissions, in accordance with the Convention;     92. Also notes the decision of the twenty-eighth Meeting of States Parties to  the Convention to continue the consideration of the conditions of service of the  members of the Commission within the open-ended working group established by the  twenty-third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;5     93. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take appropriate measures,  within overall existing resource levels, to further strengthen the capacity of the  Division, serving as the secretariat of the Commission, in order to ensure enhanced  support and assistance to the Commission and its subcommissions in their  consideration of submissions, as required by paragraph 9 of annex III to the Rules of  Procedure of the Commission, in particular its human resources, taking into account  the need for simultaneous work on several submissions;   __________________    42  See CLCS/103, CLCS/103/Corr.1 and CLCS/105.    43  See CLCS/100.    44  See CLCS/80, CLCS/80/Corr.1, CLCS/83 and CLCS/83/Corr.1.    45  SPLOS/276 and SPLOS/286.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   19/58 18-21627      94. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to provide all necessary  secretariat services to the Commission in accordance with article 2, paragraph 5, of  annex II to the Convention;     95. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate and timely measures to  ensure secretariat services for the Commission and its subcommissions for the  extended duration of time requested in the decisions of the twenty-first and twenty- sixth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention;14     96. Also requests the Secretary-General, consequently, to continue to allocate  appropriate and sufficient resources to the Division to provide adequate services and  assistance to the Commission in view of the number of its working weeks;     97. Expresses its appreciation to States that have made contributions to the  voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of  facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission, 25 and encourages  States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental  organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to  make additional contributions to this fund;    98. Recognizes the importance of the voluntary trust fund established pursuant  to resolution 55/7 in facilitating the participation of members of the Commission from  developing States in the meetings of the Commission, expresses its appreciation to  States that have made contributions to this trust fund, expresses its serious concern at  the critical lack of funds in this trust fund, which may prevent the Commission from  further implementing the decision of the twenty-sixth Meeting of States Parties that  requested the Commission to meet for up to 26 weeks, and may preclude it from  advancing its work as a result of the potential lack of a quorum at future sessions, and  urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental  organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to  make additional contributions to this fund;     99. Authorizes the use, as appropriate, of the trust fund referred to in  paragraph 98 above, and in accordance with the purpose of its terms of reference, to  defray the cost of the participation of the Chair of the Commission, when nominated  by a developing country, in the Meetings of States Parties to the Convention, and  authorizes the Secretary-General, as an interim measure and subject to the availability  of funds following the allocation of the required funds to cover the costs of travel and  daily subsistence allowance of the members of the Commission from developing  States for the sessions of the Commission in 2019, to reimburse those members for  the costs of medical travel insurance and short-term medical insurance from that trust  fund on a session-by-session basis and subject to a reasonable limit that the Secretary- General shall determine, based on the information regarding medical travel insurance  available to him;     100. Takes note of the written information, provided by the Secretary-General  in response to the request in paragraph 81 of resolution 69/245, on options for  mechanisms to provide medical insurance coverage to members of the Commission,  including costs, and the information provided by the Secretariat during the twenty- seventh and twenty-eighth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention, and  expresses its intention to continue to consider these and other options and, if  necessary, to further review the terms of reference for the trust fund established  pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the participation of members  of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission;    101. Decides that, on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent for  other agenda items, the members of the Commission have the option to join the   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 20/58    Headquarters medical insurance scheme upon payment of the full cost of the  premium;    102. Emphasizes the continued need for members of the Commission to have  suitable working space for their work at the sessions of the Commission and its  subcommissions, recognizes, with regard to the long-term accommodation  discussions, that, owing to its exceptional character, the Commission has special  requirements for its working space, including the need for fit-for-purpose working  space, adequate technical equipment and climate control, and needs to remain located  within the same premises as the Division, and emphasizes that, in the context of any  relocation of the Division or any change in its working space, full regard will be paid  to these special requirements of the Commission;    103. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the forty-ninth,  fiftieth and fifty-first sessions of the Commission, in New York, from 28 January to  15 March 2019, from 1 July to 16 August 2019 and from 14 October to 29 November  2019, respectively, with full conference services, including documentation, for the  plenary parts of these sessions,46 as well as any resumed sessions as may be required  by the Commission, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to meet  these requirements within overall existing resources;    104. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the  Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention as well as in accordance  with its Rules of Procedure, including with respect to the participation of coastal  States in relevant proceedings concerning their submissions, and recognizes the  continued need for active interaction between coastal States and the Commission;    105. Expresses its appreciation to States that have exchanged views in order to  increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the  application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating the preparation of  submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission, and  encourages States to continue to exchange views;     106. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with Member States, to  continue to support workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of  the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical  miles, taking into account the need to strengthen capacity-building for developing  countries in preparing their submissions;         VIII  Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation      107. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements  addressing the safety and security of navigation, as well as maritime labour, and to  adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention and other relevant  international instruments aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in  those agreements, and emphasizes the need for capacity-building for and assistance  to developing States;     108. Recognizes that the legal regimes governing maritime safety and maritime  security may have common and mutually reinforcing objectives that may be  interrelated and could benefit from synergies, and encourages States to take this into  account in their implementation;     109. Emphasizes the need for further efforts to promote a culture of safety and  security in the shipping industry and to address the shortage of adequately trained  __________________    46  From 4 to 8 February and from 4 to 8 March 2019 during the forty-ninth session, and from  29 July to 2 August and from 13 to 16 August 2019 during the fiftieth session.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   21/58 18-21627    personnel, and urges the establishment of more centres to provide the required  education and training;     110. Also emphasizes that safety and security measures should be implemented  in support of and with minimal negative effects on seafarers and fishers, especially in  relation to their working conditions, and welcomes the ongoing cooperation between  the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International  Labour Organization in relation to decent work and employment in fisheries and  aquaculture and on child labour in fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the work that  has been conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the  International Labour Organization on the issue of trafficking in persons and forced  labour on fishing vessels;     111. Welcomes the consideration by the International Maritime Organization of  the fair treatment of seafarers, recalls the adoption by the Organization on  4 December 2013 of resolution A.1090(28) on the fair treatment of crew members in  respect of shore leave and access to shore-side facilities, and welcomes the new  provision on shore leave in the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime  Traffic,47 which entered into force on 1 January 2018;    112. Notes the themes for the 2018 and 2019 World Maritime Day, “IMO 70:  Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future”, and “Empowering Women in the  Maritime Community”, respectively;    113. Invites States that have not yet done so to become parties to the  International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping  for Seafarers, 1978,48 as amended, and the International Convention on Standards of  Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995;    114. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties  to the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), the Seafarers’ Identity  Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185)49 and the Protocol to the Forced  Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) of the International Labour Organization, as well  as to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended, calls upon States to  effectively implement their obligations under those instruments, and emphasizes the  need to provide to States, at their request, technical cooperation and assistance in this  regard;    115. Invites States to ratify or accede to the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on  the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating  to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977;    116. Welcomes ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture  Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and the  International Labour Organization relating to the safety of fishers and fishing vessels,  and underlines the urgent need for continued work in that area;     117. Notes that in its resolution A.1078(28) of 4 December 2013 the Assembly  of the International Maritime Organization revised the International Maritime  Organization ship identification number scheme to allow its voluntary application to  seagoing ships of 100 gross tonnage and above, including fishing vessels;    118. Recalls that all actions taken to combat threats to maritime security must  be in accordance with international law, including the principles embodied in the  Charter of the United Nations and the Convention;   __________________    47  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 591, No. 8564.    48  Ibid., vol. 1361, No. 23001.    49  Ibid., vol. 2304, No. 41069.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 22/58      119. Recognizes the crucial role of international cooperation at the global,  regional, subregional and bilateral levels in combating, in accordance with  international law, threats to maritime security, including piracy, armed robbery  against ships at sea and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other  maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms  aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats, the enhanced sharing  of information among States relevant to the detection, prevention and suppression of  such threats, and the prosecution of offenders with due regard to national legislation,  and the need for sustained capacity-building to support such objectives, and in this  regard welcomes the Work Plan for Maritime Security 2018–2020, which was  reaffirmed at the twenty-fifth Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian  Nations, held in Singapore on 4 August 2018;     120. Welcomes the adoption, in Lomé on 15 October 2016, by the African  Union Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on Maritime Security  and Safety and Development in Africa of the Charter on Maritime Security and Safety  and Development in Africa;     121. Notes with satisfaction the organization in Mauritius in April 2018 of the  Ministerial Conference on Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean, at which  participants adopted the Mauritius Declaration on Maritime Security, and Comoros,  Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles signed an agreement setting up the  Regional Maritime Information Exchange and Sharing Mechanism in the Western  Indian Ocean Region and an agreement on coordination of operations at sea in the  Western Indian Ocean, and invites States to consider signing these agreements;    122. Acknowledges the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and  Criminal Justice in promoting international cooperation and strengthening capacity  to combat the problem of transnational organized crime committed at sea;    123. Notes with concern that piracy and armed robbery at sea affect a wide  range of vessels engaged in maritime activities, and expresses grave concern at the  threats posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea to the safety and welfare of seafarers  and other persons;    124. Emphasizes the importance of promptly reporting incidents to enable  accurate information on the scope of the problem of piracy and armed robbery against  ships at sea and, in the case of armed robbery against ships at sea, by affected vessels  to the coastal State, underlines the importance of effective information-sharing with  States potentially affected by incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships at  sea, notes with appreciation the important role of the International Maritime  Organization and the important contribution of the Information Sharing Centre of the  Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against  Ships in Asia, based in Singapore, which aspires to be recognized as a centre of  excellence within its purpose and mandate, and notes the Maritime Domain  Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea mechanism, the United Kingdom Maritime  Trade Operations covering the high-risk area, the Regional Maritime Information  Fusion Centre, based in Madagascar, and the Regional Maritime Centre for  Operational Coordination in Seychelles;    125. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime  Organization, to actively combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting  measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through  training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting  and investigation of incidents, by bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in  accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as by  providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship  registration;    Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   23/58 18-21627      126. Encourages States to ensure effective implementation of international law  applicable to combating piracy, as reflected in the Convention, calls upon States to  take appropriate steps under their national law to facilitate, in accordance with  international law, the apprehension and prosecution of those who are alleged to have  committed acts of piracy, including the financing or facilitation of such acts, also  taking into account other relevant instruments that are consistent with the Convention,  and encourages States to cooperate, as appropriate, with a view to developing their  national legislation in this regard;     127. Invites all States, the International Maritime Organization, the  International Labour Organization and other relevant international organizations and  agencies to adopt or recommend, as appropriate, measures to protect the interest and  welfare of seafarers and fishers who are victims of pirates, after their release from  captivity, including their post-incident care and reintegration into society;     128. Notes the compilation of national legislation on piracy on the website of  the Division, and encourages the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the  Division to continue to cooperate with the International Maritime Organization with  a view to assisting Member States, upon request, in developing their national laws on  piracy;    129. Recognizes continued national, bilateral and trilateral initiatives, as well  as regional cooperative mechanisms, in accordance with international law, to address  piracy, including the financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery at  sea, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and  implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level on combating piracy and  armed robbery against ships;    130. Expresses serious concern at the inhuman conditions hostages taken at sea  face in captivity and also the adverse impact on their families, calls for the immediate  release of all hostages taken at sea, and stresses the importance of cooperation among  Member States on the issue of hostage-taking at sea;    131. Welcomes, in this regard, the ongoing work of the United Nations Office  on Drugs and Crime Hostage Support Programme, funded by the Board of the trust  fund to support initiatives of States countering piracy off the coast of Somalia, in  securing the release of seafarers held hostage off the coast of Somalia; 50    132. Also welcomes the recent achievements against piracy and armed robbery  at sea off the coast of Somalia resulting from efforts at the global and regional levels,  which have resulted in a steady decline in pirate attacks as well as hijackings since  2011, in that regard continues to be gravely concerned by the ongoing threat that  piracy and armed robbery at sea continue to pose in the region off the coast of  Somalia, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2442 (2018) of  6 November 2018, as well as the statements by the President of the Council of  25 August 201051  and of 19 November 2012,52  also notes that the authorization in  resolution 2442 (2018) and relevant resolutions 53  apply only with respect to the  situation in Somalia and shall not affect the rights, obligations or responsibilities of  Member States under international law, including any rights or obligations under the  Convention, with respect to any other situation, and underscores, in particular, that  they shall not be considered as establishing customary international law;  __________________    50  See S/2013/623, paras. 11–13, and S/2014/740, para. 10.    51  S/PRST/2010/16; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2010–31 July  2011 (S/INF/66).    52  S/PRST/2012/24; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2012–31 July  2013 (S/INF/68).    53  See Security Council resolution 2316 (2016), first preambular paragraph.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 24/58      133. Notes the continued efforts within the Contact Group on Piracy off the  Coast of Somalia following the adoption of Security Council resolution 1851 (2008)  of 16 December 2008, including at its twenty-first plenary session, chaired by  Mauritius in Nairobi in July 2018, and commends the contributions of all States in  the efforts to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia;    134. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Federal Government of  Somalia in combating piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia,  acknowledges the importance of a comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the  situation in Somalia, and emphasizes the need to address the underlying causes of  piracy and to assist Somalia and States in the region, at their request, in strengthening  institutional capacity to fight piracy and tackle its underlying causes, including the  financing or facilitation of acts of piracy, and armed robbery against ships off the  coast of Somalia and to bring to justice those involved in such acts;    135. Notes the International Maritime Organization guidelines to assist in the  investigation of the crimes of piracy and armed robbery against ships, revised interim  guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately  contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised  interim recommendations for flag States regarding the use of privately contracted  armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, revised interim  recommendations for port and coastal States regarding the use of privately contracted  armed security personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, interim guidance to  private maritime security companies providing privately contracted armed security  personnel on board ships in the high-risk area, and interim guidance for flag States  on measures to prevent and mitigate Somalia-based piracy;     136. Welcomes the successful cooperation between China and Somalia in  transferring suspected pirates in May 2017, as well as the successful prosecution of  piracy cases in Belgium, India, Mauritius and Seychelles, as reflected in Security  Council resolution 2383 (2017) of 7 November 2017;    137. Notes with concern that the continuing limited capacity and domestic  legislation to facilitate the custody and prosecution of suspected pirates after their  capture has hindered more robust international action against pirates off the coast of  Somalia;    138. Encourages States to ensure that ships flying their flag apply ship security  measures approved in accordance with national and international law;     139. Notes the efforts made by the shipping industry to cooperate with the  efforts by States regarding piracy off the coast of Somalia, in particular in assisting  ships that navigate in that area, and recalls the adoption on 30 November 2011 by the  Assembly of the International Maritime Organization of resolution A.1044(27) on  piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia;    140. Also notes the continued implementation of the Code of Conduct  concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western  Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct), adopted on  29 January 2009 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, in the  four thematic areas of information-sharing, training, national legislation and capacity- building, and notes the adoption in January 2017 of the Jeddah Amendment to the  Djibouti Code of Conduct;    141. Expresses its deep concern at the continuing incidents of piracy and armed  robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, in particular violence against innocent crew  members of vessels, notes the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions  2018 (2011) of 31 October 2011 and 2039 (2012) of 29 February 2012 and the   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   25/58 18-21627    statement by the President of the Council of 25 April 2016,54  supports the recent  efforts to address this problem at the global and regional levels, recalls the primary  role of States in the region to counter the threat and address the underlying causes of  piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, welcomes the adoption in  Yaoundé on 25 June 2013 of the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of  Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships, and Illegal Maritime Activity in West and  Central Africa, and calls upon States in the region to implement the Code of Conduct  as soon as possible and consistent with international law, in particular the Convention;    142. Urges States to ensure the full implementation of resolution A.1069(28) of  the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on prevention and  suppression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the  Gulf of Guinea;     143. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to the  Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime  Navigation55 and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety  of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,55 invites States that have not yet  done so to consider becoming parties to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the  Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation56 and the  2005 Protocol to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the  Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 57 and urges States parties  to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those  instruments through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate;     144. Calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port  Facility Security Code and the amendments to the International Convention for the  Safety of Life at Sea,58 and to work with the International Maritime Organization to  promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation;     145. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime  Organization, to improve the protection of offshore installations by adopting  measures related to the prevention, reporting and investigation of acts of violence  against installations, in accordance with international law, and by implementing such  measures through national legislation to ensure proper and adequate enforcement;     146. Emphasizes the progress in regional cooperation, including the efforts of  littoral States, on the enhancement of safety, security and environmental protection in  the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the effective functioning of the Cooperative  Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of  Malacca and Singapore (the Cooperative Mechanism) to promote dialogue and  facilitate close cooperation between the littoral States, user States, shipping industries  and other stakeholders in line with article 43 of the Convention, notes with  appreciation the convening of the eleventh Cooperation Forum, in Singapore on  24 and 25 September 2018, the eleventh Project Coordination Committee Meeting, in  Singapore on 28 September 2018, the forty-third Tripartite Technical Experts Group  Meeting, in Singapore on 26 and 27 September 2018, and the twentieth and twenty- first Aids to Navigation Fund Committee Meetings, in Penang, Malaysia, on 3 and  4 May 2018 and in Malacca, Malaysia, on 20 and 21 September 2018, respectively,  __________________    54  S/PRST/2016/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2015–31 December  2016 (S/INF/71).    55  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1678, No. 29004.    56  International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/21.    57  International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.15/22.    58  International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and SOLAS/CONF.5/34,  and document MSC 81/25/Add.1, annex 2, resolution MSC.202(81), introducing the long-range  identification and tracking of ships system.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 26/58    the events being key pillars of the Cooperative Mechanism, also notes with  appreciation the important role of the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional  Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in  Asia, based in Singapore, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to  adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level;    147. Recognizes that some transnational organized criminal activities threaten  legitimate uses of the oceans and endanger the lives of people at sea, as well as the  livelihoods and security of coastal communities;    148. Notes that transnational organized criminal activities are diverse and may  be interrelated in some cases and that criminal organizations are adaptive and take  advantage of the vulnerabilities of States, in particular coastal and small island  developing States in transit areas, and calls upon States and relevant  intergovernmental organizations to increase cooperation and coordination at all levels  to detect and suppress the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit  trafficking in firearms, in accordance with international law;    149. Recognizes the importance of enhancing international cooperation at all  levels to fight transnational organized criminal activities, including illicit traffic in  narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, within the scope of the United Nations  instruments against illicit drug trafficking, as well as the smuggling of migrants,  trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms and criminal activities at sea  falling within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Transnational  Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;21    150. Encourages States to cooperate at the bilateral, regional and global levels  to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna  and flora where such trafficking occurs via maritime routes, through, inter alia, the  use of applicable international legal instruments as appropriate, such as the United  Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations  Convention against Corruption 59  and the Convention on International Trade in  Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,60 and reiterates its call upon Member  States expressed in its resolution 71/326 of 11 September 2017 to make illicit  trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora a serious crime, in accordance  with their national legislation and as defined in article 2 (b) and article 3,  paragraph 1 (b), of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized  Crime, in order to ensure that, where the offence is transnational in nature and  involves an organized criminal group, effective international cooperation can be  afforded under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized  Crime to prevent and combat transnational organized crime;    151. Notes with grave concern the recent proliferation of, and endangerment of  lives through, the smuggling of migrants by sea, underscores the necessity to address  such situations in accordance with applicable international law, and encourages  States, acting nationally or through relevant global or regional organizations, as  appropriate, to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to flag, port and  coastal States, upon request, to enhance their capabilities to prevent smuggling of  migrants and human trafficking by sea;     152. Calls upon States, in that context, to take measures in accordance with  relevant international obligations to prevent and combat all forms of trafficking in  persons, to identify victims of human trafficking, including among migrant flows, and  __________________    59  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146.    60  Ibid., vol. 993, No. 14537.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   27/58 18-21627    to provide trafficking victims with appropriate protection and assistance, according  to their national law and policy;     153. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties  to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,  supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized  Crime,61 the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,  Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations  Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 62  and the Protocol to Prevent,  Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,  supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized  Crime,63 and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation;     154. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation, the safety of navigation  and the rights of transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage and innocent passage  in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention;     155. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to  the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in  particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in straits used  for international navigation, and calls upon that Organization, States bordering straits  and user States to continue their cooperation to keep such straits safe, secure and  environmentally protected and open to international navigation at all times, consistent  with international law, in particular the Convention;     156. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits used for international  navigation to continue to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational  safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control  of pollution from ships, and welcomes developments in this regard;     157. Calls upon States that have accepted the amendments to regulation XI-1/6  of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, 64 to implement the  Code of International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety  Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident, 65  which took effect on  1 January 2010, and, in particular, to comply with the mandatory conduct of a marine  safety investigation into very serious marine casualties and submission of a marine  safety investigation report to the International Maritime Organization to identify  trends and develop knowledge and risk-based recommendations;    158. Takes note of International Maritime Organization resolution A.1091 (28)  of 4 December 2013 on guidelines on the preservation and collection of evidence  following an allegation of a serious crime having taken place on board a ship or  following a report of a missing person from a ship, and pastoral and medical care of  persons affected;    159. Recognizes the important work of the International Hydrographic  Organization, calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming  members of that Organization, encourages all its members to actively consider, in  accordance with applicable rules and procedures, applications of States that wish to  become members of that Organization, and urges all States to work with that  Organization to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis  __________________    61  Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574.    62  Ibid., vol. 2326, No. 39574.    63  Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574.    64  International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 3, resolution  MSC.257(84).    65  International Maritime Organization, document MSC 84/24/Add.1, annex 1, resolution  MSC.255(84).   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 28/58    to enhance capacity-building and technical assistance and to promote safe navigation,  particularly through the production and use of accurate electronic navigational charts,  especially in areas used for international navigation, in ports and where there are  vulnerable or protected marine areas;     160. Also recognizes the importance of navigational warning services based on  marine meteorological data for the safety of ships and lives at sea and the optimization  of navigation routes, and notes the collaboration between the World Meteorological  Organization and the International Maritime Organization for the enhancement of  these services and their extension to the Arctic region;     161. Encourages States to continue their efforts in the implementation of all  areas of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved  by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004;    162. Notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the  regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island  developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of  navigation in accordance with international law; that States should maintain dialogue  and consultation, in particular under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy  Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved  mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation  to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials; that States involved in the  transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small  island developing States and other States to address their concerns; and that these  concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate  forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability,  security and compensation in relation to such transport;     163. Acknowledges, in the context of paragraph 162 above, the potential  environmental and economic impacts of maritime incidents and accidents on coastal  States, in particular those related to the transport of radioactive materials, and  emphasizes the importance of effective liability regimes in that regard;     164. Invites States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the  Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007; 66     165. Requests States to take appropriate measures with regard to ships flying  their flag or of their registry to address hazards that may be caused by wrecks and  drifting or sunken cargo to navigation or the marine environment;     166. Calls upon States to ensure that masters on ships flying their flag take the  steps required by relevant instruments67 to provide assistance to persons in distress at  sea, and urges States to cooperate and to take all measures necessary to ensure the  effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on  Maritime Search and Rescue68 and to the International Convention for the Safety of  Life at Sea69 relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, as  well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;70   __________________    66  International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.16/19.    67  Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, annex 12, International Convention for the  Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as  amended, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and International Convention  on Salvage, 1989.    68  International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution  MSC.155(78).    69  International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.1, annex 3, resolution  MSC.153(78).    70  International Maritime Organization, document MSC 78/26/Add.2, annex 34, resolution  MSC.167(78).   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   29/58 18-21627      167. Recognizes that all States must fulfil their search and rescue  responsibilities in accordance with international law, including the Convention,  reaffirms the ongoing need for the International Maritime Organization and other  relevant organizations to assist, in particular, developing States both to increase and  improve their search and rescue capabilities, including, as appropriate, through the  establishment of additional rescue coordination centres and regional sub-centres, and  to take effective action to address, to the extent feasible, the issue of unseaworthy  ships and small craft within their national jurisdiction, and emphasizes in this regard  the importance of cooperation for these purposes, including within the framework of  the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979; 71    168. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization, the  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant  actors in relation to disembarkation of persons rescued at sea, notes in this regard the  need to implement all relevant and applicable international instruments and the  importance of cooperation among States as provided for in those instruments, and  underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of  non-refoulement in accordance with applicable international law;     169. Invites States to implement the Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of  Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful  Resolution of Stowaway Cases, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the  International Maritime Organization in its resolution MSC.448(99) of 24 May 2018  and by the Facilitation Committee of that Organization in its resolution FAL.13(42)  of 8 June 2018;    170. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate in developing comprehensive  approaches to international migration and development, including through dialogue  on all their aspects;     171. Also calls upon States to take measures to protect fibre-optic submarine  cables and to fully address issues relating to these cables, in accordance with  international law, as reflected in the Convention;     172. Encourages greater dialogue and cooperation among States and the  relevant regional and global organizations through workshops and seminars on the  protection and maintenance of fibre-optic submarine cables to promote the security  of such critical communications infrastructure;     173. Also encourages the adoption by States of laws and regulations addressing  the breaking or injury of submarine cables or pipelines beneath the high seas done  wilfully or through culpable negligence by a ship flying its flag or by a person subject  to its jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the Convention;     174. Affirms the importance of maintenance, including the repair, of submarine  cables, undertaken in conformity with international law, as reflected in the Convention;     175. Reaffirms that flag, port and coastal States all bear responsibility for  ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of international instruments  relating to maritime security and safety, in accordance with international law, in  particular the Convention, and that flag States have primary responsibility that  requires further strengthening, including through increased transparency of  ownership of vessels and the monitoring of organizations authorized to carry out  surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, taking into account the entry into force  of the Code for Recognized Organizations on 1 January 2015;72  __________________    71  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1405, No. 23489.    72  International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.349(92) and MEPC.237(65).   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 30/58      176. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and  appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure,  legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with and  implementation and enforcement of their responsibilities under international law, in  particular the Convention, and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the  granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not  opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent  with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels;     177. Recognizes that international shipping rules and standards adopted by the  International Maritime Organization in respect of maritime safety, efficiency of  navigation and the prevention and control of marine pollution, complemented by best  practices of the shipping industry, have led to a significant reduction in maritime  accidents and pollution incidents;     178. Notes that audits of Member States under the International Maritime  Organization Member State Audit Scheme became mandatory in January 2016 under  nine mandatory International Maritime Organization instruments and are to be carried  out in accordance with the Framework and the Procedures for the International  Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme and using the International  Maritime Organization Instruments Implementation Code (III Code);73    179. Encourages States and competent international organizations and bodies  to support the effective implementation of the requirements of the International Code  for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), adopted by the International  Maritime Organization under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at  Sea and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,  1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 74 including  relevant requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training,  Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended; 75    180. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization on  matters related to passenger ship safety in light of recent accidents, and encourages  States and competent international organizations and bodies to support continued  efforts, including technical cooperation activities, to improve passenger ship safety;    181. Recognizes that maritime safety can also be improved through effective  port State control, the strengthening of regional arrangements and increased  coordination and cooperation among them and increased transparency and  information-sharing, making ample use of information systems, such as the  International Maritime Organization Global Integrated Shipping Information  System,76 including among safety and security sectors;     182. Encourages flag States to take appropriate measures sufficient to achieve  or maintain recognition by intergovernmental arrangements that recognize  satisfactory flag State performance, including, as appropriate, satisfactory port State  control examination results on a sustained basis, with a view to improving quality  shipping and furthering flag State implementation of relevant instruments under the  __________________    73  See International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1018(26), A.1067(28),  A.1068(28) and A.1070(28).    74  International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution  MEPC.203(62).    75  International Maritime Organization, resolutions MSC.385(94) and MEPC.264(68) and related  amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (resolution  MSC.386(94)) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships  (resolution MEPC.265(68)).    76  International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolutions A.1029(26) and A.1074(28).   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   31/58 18-21627    International Maritime Organization as well as relevant goals and objectives of the  present resolution;    183. Takes note with appreciation of the important contribution of the  International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities to  the improvement and harmonization of marine aids to navigation for the reduction of  marine accidents, increased safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the  marine environment;        IX  Marine environment and marine resources      184. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII  of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its  living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all  States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or  through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of  the marine environment;     185. Calls upon States to implement the Sustainable Development Goals  outlined in the outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of  the post-2015 development agenda, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030  Agenda for Sustainable Development” as adopted by the General Assembly in  resolution 70/1, including Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas  and marine resources for sustainable development, and recalls that the Goals and  targets are integrated and indivisible;    186. Reiterates, in this regard, the call made in the declaration entitled “Our  ocean, our future: call for action” for action to be taken on an urgent basis to conserve  and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable  development;77    187. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States committed themselves to  protect and restore the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine  ecosystems, to maintain their biodiversity, enabling their conservation and sustainable  use for present and future generations, and to effectively apply an ecosystem approach  and the precautionary approach in the management, in accordance with international  law, of activities having an impact on the marine environment, to deliver on all three  dimensions of sustainable development;    188. Reaffirms paragraph 119 of resolution 61/222 of 20 December 2006  regarding ecosystem approaches and oceans, including the proposed elements of an  ecosystem approach, means to achieve implementation of an ecosystem approach and  requirements for improved application of an ecosystem approach, and in this regard:    (a)  Notes that continued environmental degradation in many parts of the world  and increasing competing demands require an urgent response and the setting of  priorities for management actions aimed at conserving ecosystem integrity;    (b)  Also notes that ecosystem approaches to ocean management should be  focused on managing human activities in order to maintain and, where needed, restore  ecosystem health to sustain goods and environmental services, provide social and  economic benefits for food security, sustain livelihoods in support of international  development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium  Declaration,78 and conserve marine biodiversity;  __________________    77  Resolution 71/312, annex.    78  Resolution 55/2.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 32/58      (c)  Recalls that States should be guided in the application of ecosystem  approaches by a number of existing instruments, in particular the Convention, which  sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and its  implementing Agreements, as well as other commitments, such as those contained in  the Convention on Biological Diversity 79  and the World Summit on Sustainable  Development call for the application of an ecosystem approach by 2010, 16 and in this  context encourages States to enhance their efforts towards applying such an approach;    (d)  Encourages States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts and take,  individually or jointly, as appropriate, all measures, in conformity with international  law, including the Convention and other applicable instruments, to address impacts  on marine ecosystems within and beyond areas of national jurisdiction, taking into  account the integrity of the ecosystems concerned;    189. Encourages competent organizations and bodies that have not yet done so  to incorporate an ecosystem approach into their mandates, as appropriate, in order to  address impacts on marine ecosystems;     190. Acknowledges the request by the United Nations Environment Assembly  at its second session, in paragraph 6 of its resolution 2/10, to the United Nations  Environment Programme to step up its work, including through its Regional Seas  Programme, on assisting countries and regions in the application of the ecosystem  approach to managing the marine and coastal environment, including through  enabling intersectoral cooperation in integrated coastal zone management and marine  spatial planning;80    191. Encourages  States,  directly  or  through  competent  international  organizations, to consider the further development and application, as appropriate and  consistent with international law, including the Convention, of environmental impact  assessment processes covering planned activities under their jurisdiction or control  that may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the  marine environment, and also encourages the communication of the reports of the  results of such assessments to the competent international organizations in accordance  with the Convention;     192. Recognizes the importance of improving understanding of the impact of  climate change on oceans and seas, and recalls that, in “The future we want”, States  noted that sea level rise and coastal erosion are serious threats for many coastal  regions and islands, particularly in developing countries and in this regard called upon  the international community to enhance its efforts to address these challenges;    193. Takes note of the findings of reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on  Climate Change, including its Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5˚C, that  increasing warming amplifies the exposure of small islands, low-lying coastal areas  and deltas to the risks associated with sea level rise;    194. Also takes note of the decision by the International Law Commission at its  seventieth session to include the topic “Sea-level rise in relation to international law”  in its long-term programme of work;81    195. Notes the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, which  focused on the theme “The effects of climate change on oceans”, during which  delegations discussed, inter alia, the environmental, social and economic impacts on  all States, in particular developing States, of the effects of climate change on the  __________________    79  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619.    80  See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 25  (A/71/25), annex.    81  Ibid., Seventy-third Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/73/10).   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   33/58 18-21627    oceans, as well as the urgent need to address such effects and impacts, the need for  international cooperation and coordination, including concerted and immediate action  to combat the effects of climate change on the oceans, as well as the need for  continued coordinated international focus in recognition that, owing to the  interconnected nature of the oceans, ensuing impacts cannot be overcome by any  single State and, in particular, in view of the grave implications for countries with  low-lying coasts, some of whose very existence is under threat;82    196. Notes with appreciation that, at its forty-third session, held in Nairobi from  11 to 13 April 2016, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change decided to  prepare a special report on climate change and oceans and the cryosphere;83    197. Welcomes the Paris Agreement 84  and its early entry into force on  4 November 2016, encourages all its parties to fully implement the Agreement and  parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 85 that have  not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or  accession, as appropriate, as soon as possible, and recognizes the importance of  raising awareness of the adverse impact of climate change on the marine environment,  marine biodiversity and sea level;    198. Also welcomes, in this regard, the convening of the twenty-fourth session  of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on  Climate Change, the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as  the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the third part of the first session  of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris  Agreement in Katowice, Poland, from 3 to 14 December 2018;    199. Notes with concern the severe impacts on coastal communities of extreme  weather events, such as tropical cyclones and associated storm surges, and encourages  cooperative actions by relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, including  the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic  Commission through the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography  and Marine Meteorology, to assist States in improving forecasting of such events and  its application in multi-hazard early warning systems and risk management;    200. Also notes with concern the approximately 30 per cent increase in the  acidity of ocean surface waters since the beginning of the industrial era 86 and the wide  range of impacts associated with the continuing and alarming acidification of the  world’s oceans, and urges States to make significant efforts to tackle the causes of  ocean acidification, recognizing countries’ national circumstances and respective  capabilities, and to further study and minimize its impacts, to enhance local, national,  regional and global cooperation in this regard, including the sharing of relevant  information and the development of worldwide capacity, including in developing  countries, to measure ocean acidification, and to take steps to make marine  ecosystems healthier and, as a result, more resilient, to the extent possible, to the  impacts of ocean acidification;    201. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States called for support for  initiatives that address ocean acidification and the impacts of climate change on  marine and coastal ecosystems and resources and in this regard reiterated the need to  work collectively to prevent further ocean acidification, as well as to enhance the  __________________    82  A/72/95.    83  See Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, decision IPCC/XLIII-6.    84  See FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21, annex.    85  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822.    86  As stated in the 2013 report of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate  Change on the physical science basis of climate change.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 34/58    resilience of marine ecosystems and of the communities whose livelihoods depend on  them, and to support marine scientific research, monitoring and observation of ocean  acidification and particularly vulnerable ecosystems, including through enhanced  international cooperation in this regard;    202. Recognizes the attention paid to ocean acidification at the fourteenth and  eighteenth meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and commits itself to  continue to pay attention to this important issue, including by taking into account the  First Global Integrated Marine Assessment (the first World Ocean Assessment), the  ongoing work of the Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the  scientific cooperation fostered by the Global Ocean Acidification Observing  Network;    203. Notes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, notes  with concern its findings on the acidification of the oceans and the substantial risks  to marine ecosystems, especially polar ecosystems, coral reefs, plankton and other  organisms which have a calcareous exoskeleton, or a shell, like crustaceans, and the  potentially detrimental consequences for fisheries and livelihoods, as well as the  findings of the World Meteorological Organization contained in its annual  Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, and notes its decision to foster collaboration with  organizations and institutions that address the carbon budget of the ocean, 87 and in  this regard encourages States and competent international organizations and other  relevant institutions, individually and in cooperation, to urgently pursue further  research on ocean acidification, especially programmes of observation and  measurement, noting in particular the continued work under the Convention on  Biological Diversity and to increase national, regional and global efforts to address  levels of ocean acidity and the negative impact of such acidity on vulnerable marine  ecosystems, particularly coral reefs;    204. Also notes, in this regard, the holding in Monaco, from 15 to 17 October  2017, of the fourth International Workshop on the Socioeconomic Impacts of Ocean  Acidification, organized by the Scientific Centre of Monaco and the Ocean  Acidification International Coordination Centre of the International Atomic Energy  Agency, which focused on the impacts on coral reefs, which are particularly  vulnerable to ocean acidification and to bleaching induced or exacerbated by global  warming, and proposed ecological and socioeconomic solutions, in particular the  reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the control of land-based pollution, the  enhancement of coral reef resilience, as well as the promotion of sustainable  economies, the monitoring of coral reef health, and restoration programmes;    205. Encourages States, individually or in collaboration with relevant  international organizations and bodies, to enhance their scientific activity to better  understand the effects of climate change on the marine environment and marine  biodiversity, support continued coordination of scientific work to study and minimize  the impacts of ocean acidification and develop ways and means of adaptation, taking  into account, as appropriate, the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches;     206. Notes the vital role that coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including  mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses, play in climate adaptation and mitigation  through carbon sequestration, and in increasing the resilience of coastal ecosystems  to ocean acidification, and the range of other benefits that these ecosystems provide,  including sustainable livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation, and  coastal protection, and encourages States and relevant international institutions and  __________________    87  World Meteorological Organization, Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress, Geneva,  25 May–12 June 2015, resolution 46 (Cg-17).   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   35/58 18-21627    organizations to work collaboratively to protect and restore coastal blue carbon  ecosystems;     207. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted with concern that the  health of oceans and marine biodiversity are negatively affected by marine pollution,  including marine debris, especially plastic, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals  and nitrogen-based compounds, from a number of marine and land-based sources,  including shipping and land run-off, and that States committed to take action to reduce  the incidence and impacts of such pollution on marine ecosystems, including through  the effective implementation of relevant conventions adopted in the framework of the  International Maritime Organization, and the follow-up of relevant initiatives such as  the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from  Land-based Activities,88 as well as the adoption of coordinated strategies to this end,  and that they further committed to take action, by 2025, based on collected scientific  data, to achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal  and marine environment;     208. Encourages States, in accordance with the commitment expressed in “The  future we want” and based on collected scientific data, to take action by 2025 to  achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and  marine environment;     209. Notes the discussions at the seventeenth meeting of the Informal  Consultative Process, which focused on the theme “Marine debris, plastics and  microplastics” and which, inter alia, highlighted that the size of the problem had  increased exponentially since the topic of marine debris was addressed at the sixth  meeting of the Informal Consultative Process, in 2005, noted that marine debris in  general, and plastics in particular, were some of the greatest environmental concerns  of our time, along with climate change, ocean acidification and loss of biodiversity,  discussed prevention and emphasized the need to address the issue, both downstream,  through improved mechanisms for waste management, disposal and recycling, and  upstream, by addressing consumption and production patterns, including through  awareness-raising campaigns;89    210. Recognizes the need for better understanding of the sources, amounts,  pathways, distribution, trends, nature and impacts of marine debris, especially plastics  and microplastics, and to examine possible measures and best available techniques  and environmental practices to prevent its accumulation and minimize its levels in  the marine environment, and welcomes in this regard the work conducted under the  Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection,  led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and its report entitled  “Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment – a global  assessment”, and the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations  Environment Programme on marine plastic debris and microplastics, which reviews  best-available knowledge and experiences in this regard and gives recommendations  for further steps to reduce plastic litter and microplastic in the oceans; 90    211. Notes that the UNEP Frontiers 2016 Report identifies microplastics as one  of six key emerging environmental issues, and calls upon States to implement  resolution 3/7 on marine litter and microplastics, adopted by the United Nations  Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme at its third  session, held in Nairobi from 4 to 6 December 2017;9   __________________    88  A/51/116, annex II.    89  See A/71/204.    90  UNEP/EA.2/5.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 36/58      212. Acknowledges the decision of the United Nations Environment Assembly  in paragraph 10 of its resolution 3/7 to convene, subject to the availability of  resources, meetings of an open-ended ad hoc expert group to further examine the  barriers to and options for combating marine plastic litter and microplastics from all  sources, especially land-based sources, and its request to the Executive Director of  the United Nations Environment Programme to provide a progress update to the  United Nations Environment Assembly at its fourth session on the programme of  work, including on the result of the meetings;    213. Welcomes the activities of relevant United Nations bodies and  organizations, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food  and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime  Organization and other intergovernmental organizations, to address the sources and  impacts of marine debris, including through the Global Partnership on Marine Litter,  as well as actions relating to marine debris taken under the Convention on Biological  Diversity and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild  Animals, 91  in particular the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to that  Convention at its twelfth meeting of resolution 12.20 on the management of marine  debris, and notes the work of the International Whaling Commission on assessing the  impacts of marine debris on cetaceans;     214. Encourages States to further develop partnerships with industry and civil  society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the  biological diversity, health and productivity of the marine environment and  consequent economic loss and to cooperate with other States, industry and civil  society, as appropriate, on environmentally sound and cost-effective measures to  prevent and reduce, as appropriate, marine debris and microplastics in the marine  environment, including through strengthened cooperation under the Global  Partnership on Marine Litter;    215. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national and, as  appropriate, regional strategies dealing with waste management, especially in the  coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and  disposal, to consider developing an integrated waste management infrastructure and  to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives with the aim of  reducing marine debris to address this issue, including the development of cost- recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and  discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and support for measures to  prevent, reduce and control pollution from any source, including land-based sources,  such as community-based coastal and waterway clean-up and monitoring activities,  and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to identify potential  sources and coastal and oceanic locations where marine debris aggregates and to  develop and implement joint prevention programmes for marine debris and to develop  and implement environmentally sound options for recovery programmes, as well as  to raise awareness of the issue of marine debris and the need to consider  environmentally sound options for its removal;     216. Notes the activities carried out by organizations at the regional level to  develop and implement regional action plans and other joint prevention and recovery  programmes for marine debris, and further notes in this regard the second  Extraordinary Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of  East Asia, held in Bangkok on 25 and 26 April 2018, which adopted new five-year  Strategic Directions focusing on land-based pollution, including marine litter,  nutrients and waste water, as well as ecosystem-based coastal and marine planning  and management, the first Executive Board meeting of the secretariat of the Pacific  __________________    91  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 28395.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   37/58 18-21627    Regional Environment Programme, held in Apia on 10 and 11 September 2018, which  endorsed and approved the Pacific marine litter action plan, which sets out the policy  context and key actions to minimize marine litter across the Pacific islands countries  and territories, and the twenty-second Intergovernmental Meeting of the Northwest  Pacific Action Plan, in Toyama, Japan, from 19 to 21 December 2017;    217. Also notes the work done under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation  framework to share best practices, enable innovative waste management financing  and encourage public-private partnerships in order to prevent and reduce marine  debris, including the workshops on “Capacity Building for Marine Debris Prevention  and Management in the APEC Region” in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to  22 June 2018 and on “Innovative Marine Debris Solutions” in Beijing on 26 July  2018, and the APEC Marine Debris Stakeholder Meeting on “Improving Data and  Coordination and Developing New Partnerships” in Bali, Indonesia, on 2 and  3 November 2018;    218. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to  international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine  environment and its living marine resources against the introduction of harmful  aquatic organisms and pathogens and marine pollution from all sources, including the  dumping of wastes and other matter, and other forms of physical degradation, as well  as agreements that provide for preparedness for, response to and cooperation on  pollution incidents and that include provisions on liability and compensation for  damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures  consistent with international law, including the Convention, aimed at implementing  and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements;     219. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States noted the significant threat  that alien invasive species pose to marine ecosystems and resources and committed  to implement measures to prevent the introduction and manage the adverse  environmental impacts of alien invasive species, including, as appropriate, those  adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization;     220. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or  acceding to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’  Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, 92  and also encourages States to consider  implementing the Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to  minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species, adopted by the International  Maritime Organization in resolution MEPC.207(62) of 15 July 2011;    221. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to  prevent pollution from ships, including through the designation of Special Areas  under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973,   as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended, 93 welcomes the  adoption by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of an action plan to  address marine plastic litter from ships,94 and encourages the International Maritime  Organization to continue working on the prevention of pollution from ships;    222. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the  Protocol of 1997 (annex VI – Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from  __________________    92  International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex.    93  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, annex IV (Regulations for  the prevention of pollution by sewage from ships) and annex V (Regulations for the prevention  of pollution by garbage from ships).    94  International Maritime Organization, resolution MEPC.310(73).   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 38/58    Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,  1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended; 95    223. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization and  the resolution on International Maritime Organization policies and practices related  to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, 96 and in this regard also  notes its adoption of an initial strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions  from ships;97    224. Urges States to cooperate in correcting the shortfall in port waste reception  facilities in accordance with the action plan to address the inadequacy of port waste  reception facilities developed by the International Maritime Organization;    225. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or  acceding to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and  Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 98 to facilitate its entry into force;    226. Encourages continued cooperation between the parties to the Basel  Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and  Their Disposal99 and the International Maritime Organization on regulations on the  prevention of pollution from ships;     227. Notes the role of the Basel Convention in protecting the marine  environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes;     228. Notes with concern the potential for serious environmental consequences  resulting from oil spill incidents or pollution incidents involving hazardous or  noxious substances, urges States, consistent with international law, to cooperate,  directly or through competent international organizations, and share best practices, in  the fields of protection of the marine environment, human health and safety,  prevention, emergency response and mitigation, and in this regard encourages the  undertaking of and collaboration on scientific research, including marine scientific  research, to better understand the consequences of marine oil spills or marine spills  involving hazardous or noxious substances;     229. Encourages States, in accordance with international law, including the  Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly  develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well  as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine  environment and biodiversity;    230. Encourages States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or  acceding to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response  and Cooperation, 1990, 100  and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and  Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000, of  the International Maritime Organization, and in this regard to consider developing  and joining regional arrangements to enhance international cooperation for combating  major oil and hazardous substances pollution incidents;   __________________    95  International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 62/24/Add.1, annex 19, resolution  MEPC.203(62).    96  International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.963(23).    97  International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 72/17/Add.1, annex 11, resolution  MEPC.304(72).    98  International Maritime Organization, document SR/CONF/45.    99  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1673, No. 28911.    100  Ibid., vol. 1891, No. 32194.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   39/58 18-21627      231. Encourages States to consider becoming parties to the 2010 Protocol to  the 1996 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in  Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea; 101    232. Recognizes that most of the pollution load of the oceans emanates from  land-based activities and affects the most productive areas of the marine environment,  and calls upon States, as a matter of priority, to implement the Global Programme of  Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and  to take all appropriate measures to fulfil the commitments of the international  community embodied in the Bali Declaration on the Protection of the Marine  Environment from Land-based Activities, adopted at the Fourth Intergovernmental  Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the  Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, held in Bali,  Indonesia, on 31 October and 1 November 2018;    233. Welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment  Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global  Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between fresh  water, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international  development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and of  the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on  Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Plan of Implementation), 16 in particular the  target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on  Financing for Development;102    234. Expresses its concern regarding the spreading of hypoxic dead zones and  harmful algal blooms in oceans as a result of eutrophication fuelled by riverine run- off of fertilizers, sewage outfall and reactive nitrogen resulting from the burning of  fossil fuels and resulting in serious consequences for ecosystem functioning, and calls  upon States to enhance their efforts to reduce eutrophication, particularly by reducing  total nutrient pollution from land-based sources and, to this effect, to continue to  cooperate within the framework of relevant international organizations, in particular  the Global Programme of Action and the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management  and Global Wastewater Initiative, including through capacity-building initiatives and  efforts to monitor, via the Global Ocean Observing System, stressors such as harmful  algal blooms, areas of hypoxia, sargassum seaweed invasions and jellyfish blooms,  to assess their possible linkage to eutrophication and their potential adverse impacts  on the marine environment as well as on human health;     235. Encourages States that have not yet done so to take, as soon as possible,  the domestic measures necessary to enable them to meet their obligations upon  ratification and, thereafter, to ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Minamata  Convention on Mercury;103     236. Calls upon all States to ensure that urban and coastal development projects  and related land-reclamation activities are carried out in a responsible manner that  protects the marine habitat and environment and mitigates the negative consequences  of such activities;     237. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the 1996  Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of  Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Protocol);  __________________    101  International Maritime Organization, document LEG/CONF.17/10.    102  Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico,   18–22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1,  annex.    103  United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/CONF/4, annex II.    A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 40/58      238. Recalls the resolution of the thirtieth Consultative Meeting of Contracting  Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of  Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (the London Convention) and the third Meeting of  Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 27 to 31 October 2008, on the  regulation of ocean fertilization,104 in which the Contracting Parties agreed, inter alia,  that the scope of the London Convention and Protocol includes ocean fertilization  activities and that, given the present state of knowledge, ocean fertilization activities  other than for legitimate scientific research should not be allowed, and that scientific  research proposals should be assessed on a case-by-case basis using an assessment  framework that was subsequently developed and adopted in 2010 by the Contracting  Parties to the London Convention and Protocol, namely, the Assessment Framework  for Scientific Research Involving Ocean Fertilization, 105 and also agreed that, to this  end, such other activities should be considered as contrary to the aims of the London  Convention and Protocol and should not currently qualify for any exemption from the  definition of dumping in article III, paragraph 1 (b), of the London Convention and  article 1, paragraph 4.2, of the London Protocol;105    239. Notes the continued work of the Contracting Parties to the London  Convention and Protocol towards a global, transparent and effective control and  regulatory mechanism for ocean fertilization activities and other activities that fall  within the scope of the London Convention and Protocol and have the potential to  cause harm to the marine environment, and notes the resolution adopted by the eighth  Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 14 to 18 October  2013, on the amendment to the London Protocol to regulate the placement of matter  for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities; 106    240. Recalls decision IX/16 C, adopted at the ninth meeting of the Conference  of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Bonn, from 19 to  30 May 2008,107 in which the Conference of the Parties, inter alia, bearing in mind  the ongoing scientific and legal analysis occurring under the auspices of the London  Convention and Protocol, requested parties and urged other Governments, in  accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure that ocean fertilization  activities were not carried out until there was an adequate scientific basis on which to  justify such activities, including an assessment of associated risks, and that a global,  transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism was in place for those  activities, with the exception of small-scale scientific research studies within coastal  waters, and stated that such studies should be authorized only if justified by the need  to gather specific scientific data, should be subject to a thorough prior assessment of  the potential impacts of the research studies on the marine environment, should be  strictly controlled and should not be used for generating and selling carbon offsets or  for any other commercial purposes, and takes note of decision X/29, adopted at the  tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological  Diversity, held in Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 29 October 2010, 108  in which the  Conference of the Parties requested parties to implement decision IX/16 C;     241. Also recalls that, in “The future we want”, States stressed their concern  about the potential environmental impacts of ocean fertilization, recalled in this  regard the decisions related to ocean fertilization adopted by the relevant  intergovernmental bodies, and resolved to continue addressing ocean fertilization  with utmost caution, consistent with the precautionary approach;   __________________    104  International Maritime Organization, document LC 30/16, annex 6, resolution LC-LP.1 (2008).    105  International Maritime Organization, document LC 32/15 and Corr.1, annex 5, resolution  LC-LP.2 (2010).    106  International Maritime Organization, document LC 35/15, annex 4, resolution LP.4(8).    107  See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I.    108  See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/10/27, annex.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   41/58 18-21627      242. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to regional seas  conventions and the protocols thereto addressing the protection and preservation of  the marine environment;    243. Invites States, in particular those States with advanced technology and  marine capabilities, to explore prospects for improving cooperation with and  assistance to developing States, in particular least developed countries, landlocked  developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African  States, with a view to better integrating into national policies and programmes  sustainable and effective development in the marine sector;    244. Notes the information compiled by the Secretariat 109  in relation to the  assistance available to and measures that may be taken by developing States, in  particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as  coastal African States, to realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development  of marine resources and uses of the oceans, as provided by States and competent  international organizations and global and regional funding agencies, and urges them  to provide information for the annual report of the Secretary-General and for  incorporation on the website of the Division;         X      Marine biodiversity      245. Reaffirms its central role relating to the conservation and sustainable use  of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;     246. Notes the work and contributions of States and relevant intergovernmental  organizations and bodies in the context 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, and the extensive and  complex discussions and exchange of views at the four sessions of the Preparatory  Committee established by resolution 69/292: Development of an international legally  binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on  the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond  national jurisdiction, which concluded on 21 July 2017, as well as the report of the  Preparatory Committee and the recommendations contained therein; 110     247. Recalls, in this regard, its resolution 72/249, and welcomes the holding of  the organizational meeting from 16 to 18 April 2018 to discuss organizational matters,  including the process for the preparation of the zero draft of the instrument;    248. Welcomes the holding of the first session of the intergovernmental  conference convened under resolution 72/249, from 4 to 17 September 2018, and  takes note of the substantive discussions that addressed the topics identified in the  package agreed in 2011, namely, the conservation and sustainable use of marine  biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, in particular, together and  as a whole, marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits,  measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas,  environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine  technology, and further takes note that the President of the conference will prepare,  as part of the preparations for the second session of the conference, a document with  the aim of facilitating focused discussions and text-based negotiations, containing  treaty language and reflecting options concerning the four elements of the package;  __________________    109  A/63/342.    110  A/AC.287/2017/PC.4/2.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 42/58      249. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the second and third sessions  of the intergovernmental conference from 25 March to 5 April 2019 and from 19 to  30 August 2019;    250. Recognizes the abundance and diversity of marine genetic resources and  their value in terms of the benefits, goods and services they can provide;     251. Also recognizes the importance of research on marine genetic resources  for the purpose of enhancing the scientific understanding, potential use and  application, and enhanced management of marine ecosystems;     252. Encourages States and international organizations, including through  bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and partnerships, to continue  in a sustainable and comprehensive way to support, promote and strengthen capacity- building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine  scientific research, taking into account, in particular, the need to improve capacities  in the field of taxonomy;     253. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal  Biological Diversity 111  and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated  programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity, 112  and, while  reiterating the central role of the General Assembly relating to the conservation and  sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction,  notes with appreciation the complementary technical and scientific work done by the  Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;     254. Reaffirms the need for States, individually or through competent  international organizations, to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based  on the best available scientific information and the precautionary approach and in  accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the  management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals,  hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features;     255. Invites Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to implement the  voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold water areas within the  jurisdictional scope of that Convention, adopted in 2016 by the thirteenth meeting of  the Conference of the Parties to that Convention;113     256. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take further  action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have  adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts,  hydrothermal vents and cold water corals;     257. Calls upon States to strengthen, in a manner consistent with international  law, in particular the Convention, the conservation and management of marine  biodiversity and ecosystems, and national policies in relation to area-based  management tools, including marine protected areas;    258. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States reaffirmed the importance of  area-based conservation measures, including marine protected areas, consistent with  international law and based on best available scientific information, as a tool for  conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, and noted  decision X/2 of the tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention  on Biological Diversity, that by 2020, 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas,  __________________    111  See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10.    112  United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex,  decision VII/5, annex I.    113  United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/13/25, sect. I,  decision XIII/11, annex II.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   43/58 18-21627    especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are  to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically  representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area- based conservation measures;108    259. Encourages States, in this regard, to further progress towards the  establishment of marine protected areas, including representative networks, and calls  upon States to further consider options to identify and protect ecologically or  biologically significant areas, consistent with international law and on the basis of the  best available scientific information;    260. Invites States to identify measures to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 11,  enshrined in decision X/2 of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the  Convention on Biological Diversity, and takes note of the announcements made by  some States in this regard;    261. Reaffirms the need for States to continue and intensify their efforts,  directly and through competent international organizations, to develop and facilitate  the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable  marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas,  consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on the  best scientific information available;     262. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and  bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of  scientific information on and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification  of marine areas that may require protection, in the light of the objective of the World  Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse  approaches and tools, such as ecosystem approaches and the establishment of marine  protected areas consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and  based on scientific information, including representative networks; 16     263. Recalls that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological  Diversity, at its ninth meeting, adopted scientific criteria for identifying ecologically  or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection in open-ocean waters  and deep-sea habitats and scientific guidance for selecting areas to establish a  representative network of marine protected areas, including in open-ocean waters and  deep-sea habitats,114 and notes the ongoing work under the Convention on Biological  Diversity on the application of the scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically  significant marine areas through the organization of a series of regional workshops;    264. Also recalls that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United  Nations has developed guidance for the identification of vulnerable marine  ecosystems through the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea  Fisheries in the High Seas, and notes its ongoing work to support application of the  Guidelines by States and to maintain a database of vulnerable marine ecosystems;     265. Notes with appreciation the work of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative under  the Convention on Biological Diversity, and notes in this regard the second meeting  of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue with Regional Seas  Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies on Accelerating Progress Towards the  Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals, held in Seoul from  10 to 13 April 2018;    266. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization to  identify and designate as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas marine areas which are  __________________    114  United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I,  decision IX/20, annexes I and II.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 44/58    recognized for their significance in terms of ecological, socioeconomic or scientific  criteria and are vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities; 115     267. Acknowledges the Micronesia Challenge, the Eastern Tropical Pacific  Seascape project, the Caribbean Challenge and the Coral Triangle Initiative, which  seek to create and link domestic marine protected areas to better facilitate ecosystem  approaches, notes the Phoenix Islands Protected Area as a multinational partnership,  and reaffirms the need for further international cooperation, coordination and  collaboration in support of such initiatives;     268. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, notes that  the thirty-third International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting was held in  Monaco from 5 to 7 December 2018, and supports the elaborated programme of work  of the Convention on Biological Diversity on marine and coastal biological diversity  related to coral reefs under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological  Diversity;    269. Recalls that, in “The future we want”, States recognized the significant  economic, social and environmental contributions of coral reefs, in particular to  islands and other coastal States, as well as the significant vulnerability of coral reefs  and mangroves to impacts, including from climate change, ocean acidification,  overfishing, destructive fishing practices and pollution, and supported international  cooperation with a view to conserving coral reef and mangrove ecosystems and  realizing their social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as facilitating  technical collaboration and voluntary information-sharing;    270. Encourages States and relevant international institutions to improve  efforts to address coral bleaching by, inter alia, improving monitoring to predict and  identify bleaching events, supporting and strengthening action taken during such  events and improving strategies to manage reefs to support their natural resilience  and enhance their ability to withstand other pressures, including ocean acidification,  and in this regard also encourages States to implement the priority actions to achieve  Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems,  adopted by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on  Biological Diversity;116     271. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent  international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving  vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment  techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems;     272. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and  integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as  into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international  financial institutions and the donor community;     273. Notes that ocean noise has potential significant adverse impacts on living  marine resources, affirms the importance of sound scientific studies in addressing this  matter, encourages further research, studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean  noise on living marine resources, notes the work of States and competent international  organizations in that regard, and requests the Division to continue to compile the peer- reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States and intergovernmental  organizations pursuant to paragraph 107 of resolution 61/222 and, as appropriate, to  make them, or references and links to them, available on its website;   __________________    115  International Maritime Organization, Revised Guidelines for the Identification and Designation  of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, Assembly resolution A.982(24).    116  See United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/12/29, sect. I.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   45/58 18-21627      274. Also notes the discussions at the nineteenth meeting of the Informal  Consultative Process, from 18 to 22 June 2018, on the theme of anthropogenic  underwater noise, during which delegations, inter alia, expressed concern over the  potential social, economic and environmental impacts of anthropogenic underwater  noise due to the growth of ocean-related human activities, which has resulted in  increased sound in many parts of the ocean, as well as the potential impacts of  anthropogenic underwater noise on different marine species and, in view of the  continuing gaps in knowledge and lack of data, stressed the urgent need for further  research and international cooperation to assess and address the potential effects of  anthropogenic underwater noise in all ocean areas;117     275. Calls upon States to consider appropriate cost-effective measures and  approaches to assess and address the potential socioeconomic and environmental  impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise, taking into account the precautionary  approach and ecosystem approaches and the best available scientific information, as  appropriate;    276. Notes the approval by the International Maritime Organization of  Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial Shipping to  Address Adverse Impacts on Marine Life, and invites the International Maritime  Organization to promote and encourage their implementation for existing ships and  new vessels, when appropriate, including by promoting measures that may reduce  cavitation, 118  and encourages States to continue their work at the International  Maritime Organization to enhance understanding of the extent to which improved  ship technology, including efficient propeller design, could lead to reduced  introduction of underwater noise in the oceans;    277. Also notes the convening of a workshop on ship noise mitigation  technologies, in Halifax, Canada, on 28 and 29 November 2018, and hosted by the  Government of Canada and the Canadian Network for Innovative Shipbuilding,  Marine Research and Training, and the Ship Noise Mitigation Technologies  Workshop, in London from 30 January to 1 February 2019, hosted by the Government  of Canada and the International Maritime Organization, focusing on, inter alia, the  linkages between the energy efficiency of ships and underwater noise, and propeller  and ship designs to reduce underwater noise;    278. Encourages further research into technologies to reduce the impact of  underwater noise on marine life;        XI      Marine science      279. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or with  competent international organizations and bodies, to continue to strive to improve  understanding and knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular,  the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing  their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention;     280. Encourages, in that regard, relevant international organizations and other  donors to consider supporting the Endowment Fund of the International Seabed  Authority in order to promote the conduct of collaborative marine scientific research  in the international seabed area by supporting the participation of qualified scientists  and technical personnel from developing countries in relevant programmes, initiatives  and activities;   __________________    117  See A/73/124.    118  International Maritime Organization, document MEPC.1/Circ.833, annex.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 46/58      281. Notes with concern that human-related threats, such as marine debris, ship  strikes, underwater noise, persistent contaminants, coastal development activities, oil  spills and discarded fishing gear, together may severely impact marine life, including  its higher trophic levels, and calls upon States and competent international  organizations to cooperate and coordinate their research efforts in this regard so as to  reduce these impacts and preserve the integrity of the whole marine ecosystem, while  fully respecting the mandates of relevant international organizations;     282. Welcomes the programme entitled “Promote and facilitate the conduct of  marine scientific research under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the  Sea” of the Division and the Korea Maritime Institute, carried out in cooperation with  the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission with the aim of assisting  developing countries, especially small island developing States, to build their  capacities in the field of marine scientific research;     283. Invites all relevant organizations, funds, programmes and bodies within  the United Nations system, in consultation with interested States, to coordinate  relevant activities with regional and national marine scientific and technological  centres in small island developing States, as appropriate, to ensure the more effective  achievement of their objectives in accordance with relevant United Nations small  island developing States development programmes and strategies;     284. Welcomes  the  resolution  adopted  by  the  Assembly  of  the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-eighth session, held in  Paris from 18 to 25 June 2015, regarding the adoption of the Second International  Indian Ocean Expedition as an important catalyst project linking Indian Ocean  processes to the global ocean and atmosphere, officially launched in Goa, India, on  4 December 2015 for an initial period of five years, invites States to participate in  this initiative, and notes that two nodes of the Second International Indian Ocean  Expedition Joint Project Office have been established to coordinate operations of the  expedition in Perth, Australia, and Hyderabad, India;     285. Notes with appreciation the work of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic  Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea,  on the development of procedures for the implementation of Parts XIII and XIV of  the Convention;     286. Notes that the depth of a significant percentage of the world’s oceans, seas  and waterways has yet to be measured directly and that bathymetric knowledge  underpins the safe, sustainable and cost-effective execution of almost every human  activity in, on or under the sea;    287. Welcomes the work of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans project  under the International Hydrographic Organization and the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic Commission and, in particular, the outcome of the Forum for Future  Ocean Floor Mapping, held in June 2016 in Monaco, and the subsequent development  by the Guiding Committee of the Seabed 2030 project for improving bathymetry  globally;    288. Encourages Member States to consider contributing to mechanisms that  encourage the widest possible availability of all bathymetric data, so as to support the  sustainable development, management and governance of the marine environment;    289. Notes with appreciation the contribution to marine biodiversity research  of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, a free and open-access data holding  and sharing facility, hosted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;    Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   47/58 18-21627      290. Welcomes the increasing attention being focused on oceans as a potential  source of renewable energy, and notes in this regard the summary of discussions of  the Informal Consultative Process at its thirteenth meeting; 119     291. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the  oceans-atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing  programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean  Observing System, sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission,  the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization  and the International Council for Science, particularly considering their role in  monitoring and forecasting climate change and variability and in the establishment  and operation of tsunami warning systems;     292. Welcomes the progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic  Commission and Member States towards the establishment and operation of regional  and national tsunami warning and mitigation systems, also welcomes the continued  collaboration of the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations in this  effort, further welcomes the development and recent dissemination of the new  Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System  and the development of Enhanced Tsunami Products for the Tsunami and Other  Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, which will  assist countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean to assess tsunami threats and issue  warnings, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national  warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard  approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and  strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters;     293. Stresses the need for continued efforts in developing mitigation and  preparedness measures for natural disasters, particularly following tsunami events  caused by earthquakes, such as the 11 March 2011 event in Japan;     294. Urges States to take necessary action and to cooperate in relevant  organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United  Nations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the World  Meteorological Organization, to address damage to ocean data buoys deployed and  operated in accordance with international law, including through education and  outreach about the importance and purpose of these buoys and by strengthening these  buoys against such damage and increasing reporting of such damage;     295. Welcomes the steps taken by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic  Commission to initiate preparation of the implementation plan for the United Nations  Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) in consultation  with Member States, specialized agencies, funds, programmes and bodies of the  United Nations, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental  organizations and relevant stakeholders;     296. Requests that the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission continue  to provide information on the development of the implementation plan and regularly  consult with, and report to, Member States on the United Nations Decade of Ocean  Science and its implementation;    297. Invites the Secretary-General to inform the General Assembly on the  implementation of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science through his report on  oceans and the law of the sea, on the basis of information to be provided by the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;  __________________    119  A/67/120.    A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 48/58      298. Invites UN-Oceans and its participants to collaborate with the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the United Nations Decade of  Ocean Science;        XII      Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the  Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects      299. Reiterates the need to strengthen the regular scientific assessment of the  state of the marine environment in order to enhance the scientific basis for  policymaking;    300. Reaffirms the principles guiding the Regular Process and its objective and  scope as agreed upon at the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole  in 2009;    301. Recalls that the Regular Process, as established under the United Nations,  is accountable to the General Assembly and is an intergovernmental process guided  by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea  and other applicable international instruments, and takes into account relevant  Assembly resolutions;    302. Reaffirms the importance of the first World Ocean Assessment as the  outcome of the first cycle of the Regular Process;    303. Reiterates its concern at the findings of the first World Ocean Assessment  that the world’s ocean is facing major pressures simultaneously with such great  impacts that the limits of its carrying capacity are being, or, in some cases, have been  reached, and that delays in implementing solutions to the problems that have already  been identified as threatening to degrade the world’s ocean will lead, unnecessarily,  to incurring greater environmental, social and economic cost;    304. Recalls the importance of making Governments, United Nations system  organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, the  scientific community and the general public aware of the first World Ocean  Assessment and the Regular Process, and recognizes with appreciation the activities  undertaken in this regard during various intergovernmental meetings;    305. Also recalls the technical abstracts of the first World Ocean Assessment  on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond  national jurisdiction, the ocean and the Sustainable Development Goals under the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the impacts of climate change and  related changes in the atmosphere on the oceans, prepared in accordance with the  programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular  Process;    306. Further recalls that advance unedited copies of the technical abstracts  were made available to the Preparatory Committee established by resolution 69/292,  the eighteenth meeting of the Informal Consultative Process and the United Nations  Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14;    307. Recalls the decision that, in the first cycle, the scope of the Regular  Process focused on establishing a baseline, and that the scope of the second cycle  would extend to evaluating trends and identifying gaps;    308. Also recalls the decision that the Regular Process shall be overseen and  guided by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole, and that the Ad Hoc Working  Group shall facilitate the delivery of the outputs of the second cycle as outlined in the  programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular  Process;   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   49/58 18-21627      309. Recognizes with appreciation the important role of the Co-Chairs and the  Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole in providing guidance during the  intersessional periods, including in operationalizing the second cycle of the Regular  Process;    310. Welcomes the holding of the tenth and eleventh meetings of the Ad Hoc  Working Group of the Whole, on 28 February and 1 March 2018 and on 23 and  24 August 2018, respectively, in accordance with paragraph 330 of resolution 72/73;     311. Takes note of the recommendations and guidance adopted by the Ad Hoc  Working Group of the Whole at its tenth meeting, 120  and endorses the  recommendations adopted by the Ad Hoc Working Group at its eleventh meeting; 121     312. Reaffirms its decision that in the elaboration of an outline, the Group of  Experts of the Regular Process should proceed on the basis of the preparation of a  single comprehensive assessment, and notes the approval by the Ad Hoc Working  Group of the Whole of the outline for the second world ocean assessment in  accordance with paragraph 330 of resolution 72/73;122     313. Takes note of the preliminary timetable and implementation plan for the  second world ocean assessment, prepared by the Group of Experts in consultation  with the secretariat of the Regular Process;    314. Recalls the endorsement by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole of  the terms of reference and working methods of the Group of Experts for the second  cycle of the Regular Process, prepared in accordance with paragraph 310 of resolution  71/257,123 and takes note of the guidance for contributors, part II, prepared by the  Group of Experts pursuant to paragraph 310 of resolution 71/257;124     315. Notes the appointment of an additional expert to the Group of Experts in  accordance with paragraph 287 of resolution 70/235, and urges regional groups that  have not yet done so to appoint experts to the Group of Experts, taking into account  the need to ensure geographical distribution and adequate expertise in socioeconomic  disciplines;    316. Welcomes the expressions of interest of individuals who served in the Pool  of Experts during the first cycle of the Regular Process to serve in the Pool of Experts  for the second cycle;    317. Also welcomes the appointment of additional experts to the Pool of Experts  for the second cycle of the Regular Process by States and through recommendations  from relevant intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with the mechanism for  the establishment of the Pool of Experts for the second cycle of the Regular Process, 125  and encourages the further appointment of experts to the Pool of Experts;    318. Recognizes with appreciation the continued work of the members of the  Group of Experts and that of the Pool of Experts of the Regular Process in the  implementation of the second cycle of the Regular Process;     319. Welcomes the designation by States of national focal points pursuant to  paragraph 315 of resolution 72/73, and urges States that have not yet done so to  designate their national focal points as soon as possible;  __________________    120  See A/73/74.    121  A/73/373, sect. III.    122  A/73/74, annex I.    123  A/72/89, annex.    124  See A/73/74, annex II. For part I of the guidance for contributors, see A/72/494, annex IV.    125  A/72/494, annex I.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 50/58      320. Notes the finalization and adoption by the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working  Group of the Whole of guidelines to assist the second round of workshops of the  second cycle of the Regular Process, 126  prepared by the Group of Experts in  consultation with the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Working Group and the secretariat of the  Regular Process;    321. Takes note of the summaries of the first round of regional workshops in  support of the second cycle of the Regular Process, held in Lisbon in September 2017,  in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2017, in Camboriú, Brazil, in November 2017,  in Bangkok in November 2017 and in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, in  December 2017, which informed the preparation of the outline for the second world  ocean assessment and will assist in the identification of additional experts for the Pool  of Experts and in the identification of issues for consideration at the multi-stakeholder  dialogue and capacity-building partnership event;    322. Also takes note of the offers to host regional workshops for the second  round of regional workshops, in 2018, in support of the second cycle of the Regular  Process;    323. Recalls the crucial importance of the Regular Process for ongoing ocean- related intergovernmental processes and its possible inputs, including for the 2030  Agenda for Sustainable Development, the development of an international legally  binding instrument, under the Convention, on the conservation and sustainable use of  marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the United Nations  Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Informal Consultative Process,  as outlined in the programme of work for the period 2017–2020 for the second cycle  of the Regular Process;    324. Also recalls the importance of ensuring that assessments, such as those  included in the Global Sustainable Development Report and those prepared under the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy  Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the Regular Process, support  one another and avoid unnecessary duplication, and also recalls the importance of  compatibility and synergies between such assessments and assessments at the  regional level;    325. Requests intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to  provide information on recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the  regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process in order for the secretariat  to update the inventory of recent and ongoing assessments and other processes at the  regional and global levels relevant to the Regular Process;    326. Takes note with appreciation of the work undertaken thus far by the  secretariat in compiling a capacity-building inventory of needs and opportunities  relevant for the Regular Process, in accordance with the programme of work, based  on information contributed by relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies,  funds and programmes and by relevant intergovernmental organizations;    327. Invites States and non-governmental organizations, as well as  intergovernmental organizations that have not already done so, to provide relevant  information for inclusion in the capacity-building inventory of needs and  opportunities relevant for the Regular Process being compiled and maintained by the  secretariat;    328. Takes note of the endorsement by the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole  of the agenda for the multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity-building partnership  __________________    126  Available from the web page of the Regular Process maintained by the Division for Ocean  Affairs and the Law of the Sea.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   51/58 18-21627    event to be held in 2019, and notes that the Ad Hoc Working Group will consider the  outcome of the dialogue and event at its twelfth meeting;    329. Recalls its invitation, in paragraph 326 of resolution 72/73, to the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the United Nations Environment  Programme, the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture  Organization of the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization and  relevant United Nations system organizations, bodies, funds and programmes, as  appropriate, to assist in the implementation of the second cycle of the Regular Process  with regard to the following activities: awareness-raising, the identification of experts  for the Pool of Experts, technical and scientific support for the Bureau and the Group  of Experts, hosting meetings of the writing teams and capacity-building;    330. Also recalls the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental  Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-ninth session, from 21 to 29 June 2017, of  decision IOC-XXIX/8.2, in particular regarding the provision of technical and  scientific support to the second cycle of the Regular Process in accordance with the  guidance of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole;    331. Further recalls its invitation, in paragraph 328 of resolution 72/73, to  relevant intergovernmental organizations to contribute, as appropriate, to the  activities of the second cycle;    332. Urges States, international financial institutions, donor agencies,  intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and  juridical persons to make financial contributions to the voluntary trust fund 127 and to  make other contributions to the Regular Process;    333. Requests the Bureau to continue to implement the decisions and guidance  of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Whole during the intersessional period,  including by providing oversight of the delivery of the programme of work for the  period 2017–2020 for the second cycle of the Regular Process;    334. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twelfth meeting of the Ad  Hoc Working Group of the Whole on 29 and 30 July 2019, with a view to providing  recommendations to the General Assembly on progress in the implementation of the  second cycle, and encourages the widest possible attendance of participants in the Ad  Hoc Working Group;        XIII      Regional cooperation      335. Notes with appreciation efforts and initiatives at the regional level, in  various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention and to respond,  including through capacity-building, to issues related to maritime safety and security,  the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources, the protection and  preservation of the marine environment and the conservation and sustainable use of  marine biodiversity;    336. Invites States and international organizations to enhance their cooperation  to better protect the marine environment;    337. Notes the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to  facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime  delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, notes once again the Fund for  Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General  Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism,  __________________    127  See resolution 69/245, para. 278.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 52/58    given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending  territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and  others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds;    338. Recalls the outcome document of the third International Conference on  Small Island Developing States, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action  (SAMOA) Pathway128 and the modalities set forth for strengthened action on a range  of small island developing States challenges and priorities, including challenges  related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and the  preservation of the marine environment, reaffirms its commitment to work with small  island developing States towards full implementation of the Samoa Pathway to ensure  its success, also recalls the decision to convene, in September 2019, a one-day high- level review of the progress made in addressing the priorities of small island  developing States through the implementation of the Samoa Pathway,129 and notes  with appreciation the holding, in 2018, of regional preparatory meetings as well as an  interregional meeting for small island developing States to review the progress and  implementation of the Samoa Pathway at the national and regional levels;130     339. Recognizes the results of the International Polar Year, 2007–2008 with  particular emphasis on new knowledge about the linkages between environmental  change in the polar regions and global climate systems, and encourages States and  scientific communities to strengthen their cooperation in this respect;     340. Acknowledges the important contributions to scientific understanding of  the marine environment and its resources, as well as the scientific advice for their  sustainable use, provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea  in its wide-ranging cooperation with organizations at the regional level under the  Convention for the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 1964; 131     341. Welcomes regional cooperation, and in this regard notes the Pacific  Oceanscape Framework as an initiative to enhance cooperation among coastal States  in the Pacific island region to foster marine conservation and sustainable  development;    342. Notes with appreciation the various cooperative efforts displayed by States  at the regional and subregional levels, and in this regard welcomes initiatives, such  as the Integrated Assessment and Management of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine  Ecosystem;     343. Acknowledges relevant cooperation among the members of the Zone of  Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic;     344. Recalls the decision of the Assembly of the African Union in January 2015  to adopt Agenda 2063, also recalls that the African Union launched the Decade of  African Seas and Oceans (2015–2025), and notes that the African Day of the Seas and  Oceans is to be celebrated annually on 25 July;    345. Notes the adoption of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked  Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024 by the second United Nations  Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Vienna from 3 to  5 November 2014, 132  following the comprehensive 10-year review of the  implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs  of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit  __________________    128  Resolution 69/15, annex.    129  Resolution 71/225, para. 19.    130  See resolution 72/217, para. 28.    131  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 652, No. 9344.    132  Resolution 69/137, annex II.   Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   53/58 18-21627    Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries, 133 and also  notes the need for cooperation to address the development needs and challenges faced  by landlocked developing countries associated with, inter alia, their lack of direct  territorial access to the sea, remoteness and isolation from world markets, in line with  the objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action;    346. Also notes the efforts of the Sargasso Sea Commission, led by the  Government of Bermuda, to raise awareness of the ecological significance of the  Sargasso Sea;     347. Further notes the entry into force, on 23 May 2018, of the Arctic Council  Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation;    348. Notes the cooperation between the OSPAR Commission established by the  Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic  and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission;        XIV      Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea      349. Welcomes the report of the Co-Chairs on the work of the Informal  Consultative Process at its nineteenth meeting, which focused on the theme of  anthropogenic underwater noise;4     350. Recognizes the role of the Informal Consultative Process as a unique forum  for comprehensive discussions on issues related to oceans and the law of the sea,  consistent with the framework provided by the Convention and chapter 17 of  Agenda 21,6 and that the perspective of the three pillars of sustainable development  should be further enhanced in the examination of the selected topics;     351. Welcomes the work of the Informal Consultative Process and its  contribution to improving coordination and cooperation between States and  strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of  the sea by effectively drawing attention to key issues and current trends;     352. Also welcomes efforts to improve and focus the work of the Informal  Consultative Process, and in that respect recognizes the primary role of the Informal  Consultative Process in integrating knowledge, the exchange of opinions among  multiple stakeholders and coordination among competent agencies, and enhancing  awareness of topics, including emerging issues, while promoting the three pillars of  sustainable development, and recommends that the Informal Consultative Process  devise a transparent, objective and inclusive process for the selection of topics and  panellists so as to facilitate the work of the General Assembly during informal  consultations concerning the annual resolution on oceans and the law of the sea;     353. Recalls the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Informal  Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and  programmes to provide guidance to the Co-Chairs to this effect, particularly before  and during the preparatory meeting for the Informal Consultative Process;     354. Decides to continue the Informal Consultative Process for the next two  years, in accordance with resolution 54/33, with a further review of its effectiveness  and utility by the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session;  __________________    133  Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing  Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on  Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3),  annex I.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 54/58      355. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, in accordance with  paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 54/33, the twentieth meeting of the Informal  Consultative Process, in New York from 10 to 14 June 2019, to provide it with the  facilities necessary for the performance of its work, including documentation, and to  arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant  parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate;     356. Expresses its continued serious concern regarding the lack of resources  available in the voluntary trust fund established pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the  purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries,  small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the  meetings of the Informal Consultative Process, and urges States, international  financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non- governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make additional  contributions to the trust fund;     357. Decides that those representatives from developing countries who are  invited by the Co-Chairs, in consultation with Governments, to make presentations  during the meetings of the Informal Consultative Process shall receive priority  consideration in the disbursement of funds from the voluntary trust fund established  pursuant to resolution 55/7 in order to cover the costs of their travel, and shall also  be eligible to receive daily subsistence allowance subject to the availability of funds  after the travel costs of all other eligible representatives from those countries  mentioned in paragraph 356 above have been covered;     358. Also decides that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary- General on oceans and the law of the sea, the Informal Consultative Process shall  focus its discussions at its twentieth meeting, in 2019, on the theme “Ocean Science  and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”;         XV      Coordination and cooperation      359. Encourages States to work closely with and through international  organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the  United Nations system and relevant international conventions, to identify emerging  areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address  these issues;     360. Expresses its concern at the desecration of graves at sea and the looting of  wrecks of ships constituting such graves, and calls upon States to cooperate, as  appropriate, to prevent the looting and desecration of wrecks of ships constituting  graves in order to ensure that proper respect is given to all human remains located in  maritime waters, consistent with international law, including, as appropriate, the 2001  Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, among parties  thereto;     361. Encourages bodies established by the Convention to strengthen  coordination and cooperation, as appropriate, in fulfilling their respective mandates;    362. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the  attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds  and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs  and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance  of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on  oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and  processes;    Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   55/58 18-21627      363. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations  specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related  organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation  on ocean issues, including, where appropriate, through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency  coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations  system;     364. Recognizes the work undertaken by UN-Oceans, in particular the  inventory of mandates, under the revised terms of reference for the work of  UN-Oceans, and with the United Nations Legal Counsel/Division for Ocean Affairs  and the Law of the Sea as the focal point of UN-Oceans, and, as an interim measure,  in this regard invites States, international financial institutions, donor agencies,  intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and  juridical persons to make financial earmarked contributions to the trust fund  established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs to support the  promotion of international law, and authorizes the Secretary-General to disburse  funds from such contributions to that trust fund for the purposes of the maintenance  of an online searchable database for an inventory of the mandates of UN-Oceans  members and priorities approved by the respective governing bodies of the  participating organizations of UN-Oceans, with a view to identifying possible areas  of collaboration and synergy, as well as for travel associated with the performance of  the functions of the focal point;    365. Decides to defer the review of the terms of reference for the work of  UN-Oceans until its seventy-fifth session;        XVI      Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea      366. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual reports  on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other  activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to  Member States by the Division;    367. Notes with satisfaction the tenth observance by the United Nations of  World Oceans Day in 2018,134 recognizes with appreciation the efforts deployed by  the Division in this regard, and invites the Division to continue to promote and  facilitate international cooperation on the law of the sea and ocean affairs in the  context of the future observance of World Oceans Day, as well as through its  participation in other events;     368. Recalls the responsibilities and functions entrusted to the Secretary- General in the Convention and in the related resolutions of the General Assembly,  including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, notes the increased number of requests to the  Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings and in relation to the support  to be provided by the Division as secretariat of the Regular Process during the second  cycle of the Regular Process, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the  allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities  under the approved budget for the Organization;     369. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the publication activities of the  Division, in particular through the publication of The Law of the Sea: A Select  Bibliography and the Law of the Sea Bulletin;    __________________    134  By its resolution 63/111, the General Assembly designated 8 June as World Oceans Day.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 56/58        XVII      Seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly      370. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare reports for consideration by the  General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, namely, a report on developments and  issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation  of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and  a report on the topic that is the focus of the twentieth meeting of the Informal  Consultative Process;    371. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual reports of the Secretary-General,  which integrate information on developments relating to the implementation of the  Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other  institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional  levels, and as a result constitute the basis for the annual consideration and review of  developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly  as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review;     372. Notes that the reports referred to in paragraph 370 above will also be  submitted to States Parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues  of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention;     373. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of and effective  participation of delegations in the informal consultations concerning the annual  General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea, decides that the period  of the informal consultations on that resolution should not exceed a maximum of two  weeks in total and that the consultations should be scheduled in such a way that the  Division has sufficient time to produce the report on developments and issues relating  to ocean affairs and the law of the sea referred to in paragraph 370 above, requests  the Secretary-General to continue to provide support to the consultations through the  Division, and encourages States to submit proposals for the resolution to the  Coordinator of the informal consultations no later than one week before the first day  of the first round of the informal consultations;    374. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fourth session  the item entitled “Oceans and the law of the sea”.     50th plenary meeting   11 December 2018       Oceans and the law of the sea  A/RES/73/124   57/58 18-21627       Annex      Amendments to the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the  Trust Fund for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of  submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental  Shelf for developing States, in particular the least developed  countries and small island developing States, and compliance with  article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea135           Terms of reference, guidelines and rules        1.  Reasons for establishing the Trust Fund      In paragraph 2, amend the last sentence to read:      “In accordance with article 4 of annex II to the Convention, the particulars  of such limits should be submitted to the Commission within ten years of the  entry into force of the Convention for that State. The earliest deadline for  submission for States was 13 May 2009.”    In paragraph 7, amend the last sentence to read:       “The final preparation of a submission, including additional information  with respect to submissions and revised or new submissions, to the Commission  also requires high-level expertise in geosciences and hydrography.”        2.  Objects and purpose of the Trust Fund      In paragraph 9, amend the last sentence to read:       “The object of the Fund is to enable developing States, in particular, the  least developed coastal countries and small island developing States, to make  an initial assessment of their particular case, make appropriate plans for further  investigations and data acquisition, to prepare the final submission documents,  as well as subsequent amended and/or revised submission documents, to  maintain the capacity of developing States while waiting for their submission to  be assigned to a subcommission for examination, and to meet with the  Commission when it is considering their submission upon the Commission’s  invitation.”    In paragraph 13, amend the first sentence to read:      “The preparation of the final submission documents, as well as subsequent  amended and/or revised submission documents, will have to meet the  requirements of article 76 and annex II to the Convention (and for some States,  annex II to the Final Act) and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the  Commission.”        4.  Application for financial assistance      Amend paragraph 15 to read:       “An application for financial assistance from the Fund may be submitted  by developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island  developing States, who are parties to the Convention.”    Amend subparagraph (d) in paragraph 16 to read:      “Preparation of final, amended and/or revised submission documents;”  __________________    135  As set out in annex II to General Assembly resolution 55/7, the annex to resolution 58/240 and  the annex to resolution 70/235.   A/RES/73/124  Oceans and the law of the sea   18-21627 58/58      Move paragraph subparagraph (e) in paragraph 16, below subparagraph (f).    Amend subparagraph (d) in paragraph 17 to read:      “Preparation of final, amended and/or revised submission documents”    Move paragraph subparagraph (e) in paragraph 17, below subparagraph (f).        5.  Consideration of applications      Amend paragraph 20 to read:      “The Division may engage an independent panel to assist in the  examination of applications on the basis of section 4 above and to recommend  the amount of financial assistance to be given. The panel shall be composed of  the Chairs of the United Nations Regional Groups; each Chair may designate  one representative from their Regional Group to attend on their behalf.  However, no person from a State with an application before the panel and no  sitting Commission member should serve on this independent panel.”    Amend paragraph 21 to read:      “In considering the application, the Division shall be guided by the  following, in order of priority:      (a)  the need to assist States requesting assistance with their initial  submission to the Commission;      (b)  the need to assist least developed countries and small island  developing States;      (c)  the need to assist developing States to prepare additional data  requested by the subcommission analysing their submission;      (d)  the need to assist developing States to participate in meetings with  the Commission or one of its subcommissions upon an invitation by the  Commission;       (e)  the need to assist developing States to maintain their capacity while  waiting for their submission to be assigned to a subcommission for examination;  and      (f)  the need to assist developing States to prepare revised and/or  amended submissions.      The order in which applications are received, the availability of funds and  the overall level of assistance provided so far to a State requesting assistance  shall also be taken into consideration. Assistance with revised or amended  submissions will be limited to one approved application per developing State;  in the case of joint submissions each State involved in the joint submission may  seek such assistance.”    Delete paragraph 22. Renumber subsequent paragraphs.