4.2.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 32/1 I (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 26 April 2004 on the accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (2005/75/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, seventh session of the Multilateral High Level Conference held in Honolulu, on 5 September 2000. Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, (5) This Convention is open to accession to the Community in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 thereof. Having regard to the proposal from the Commission’ (6) This Convention seeks to ensure, through effective management, the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks in the western and Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament ('), central Pacific Ocean in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement. Whereas: 1) The Community is competent to adopt measures for the (7) Community fishermen operate in the Convention Area. conservation and management of fishery resources and It is thus in the Community’s interest to become a full to enter into agreements with other countries and inter- member of the regional fisheries organisation to be set national organisations. up under this Convention in compliance with its obliga- tions under the international Law of the Sea. The Com- o ) ) munity should therefore accede to this Convention, (2)  The Community is a Contracting Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires all members of the international community to cooperate in conserving and managing the sea’s biolo- gical resources. (3)  The Community has signed the Agreement on the imple- HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: mentation 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 (3 (The 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement). Aticle 1 (4)  The Convention on the Conservation and Management The accession of the European Community to the Convention of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Central Pacific Ocean was open for signature at the Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is hereby approved. (1) Assent delivered on 1 April 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJL189,3.7.1998, p. 16. The text of the Convention is attached to this Decision.