FAO TCP Project proposal on addressing climate change

impact on Pacific SIDS jurisdictional claims

Oceanic Fisheries Management Project II – Project Design Consultation

8 March 2013

Noumea, New Caledonia

Project name:

Assessment and development of national and regional options and strategies to address jurisdictional implications of climate change

and related capacity building

“Jurisdictional claims project”

Design and approachTypical FAO TCP Project –

decentralized formulation and operated – HQ technical backstopping

Integral part of OFMP II – but can be implemented as an autonomous

complementary project

Falls under climate change - impact on jurisdictional claims

Focus on legal options/responses to climate change through a strategic

approach and capacity building

Output 1.2.2 of Project Framework

Assessment of sea level rise/climate change impacts on fisheries jurisdictions conducted in coordination

with related initiatives and related training carried out for 14 Pacific SIDS

Background and considerations

Certainty, clarity and consistency in jurisdictional claims = effective

implementation of instruments and management

Baselines that are based on physical features/land marks when inundated due to sea level rise could affect 200

EEZ

No explicit reference in international law/UNCLOS on continued validity

of claims (Int’l law is silent)

Legal Boundaries of the Oceans and Airspace

Key components

Budget: US$500,000 Objectives:

– enhance understanding and recognition in Pacific SIDS region of full import of physical and jurisdictional implications of SLR

– directly lead to development and endorsement of a Regional Strategy (policy and legal) and approaches and options for recognition and preservation of Pacific SIDS jurisdictional claims

Key components

Activities– National consultations– Regional consultation formulation of strategies– Capacity building

OutputsRegional Strategy

national strategies

Enhanced understanding/capacities developed

THANK YOU