United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement

The Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, otherwise known as the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), is a multilateral treaty created by the United Nations to enhance the cooperative management of fisheries resources that require international cooperation because they span wide areas and are of economic and environmental concern to a number of nations. The UNFSA builds on and implements specific provisions to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), acting as a supplementary treaty.

As of September 2025, the treaty had been ratified by 94 parties, which includes 93 states and the European Union. The objective of UNFSA is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fish that are straddling or highly migratory. These fish stocks are present across national borders or outside the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) as drawn by UNCLOS, therefore necessitating international cooperation.

Straddling fish stocks are those which can be found both within a given nation’s jurisdiction and in the adjacent high seas. Examples of straddling fish stocks include cod, squid, and halibut. Scholars have noted that straddling stocks can be vulnerable to overexploitation due to difficulties in coordinating management across jurisdictions.

Highly migratory fish stocks travel longer distances regularly through international boundaries and EEZs. Examples of highly migratory fish stocks include tuna and swordfish.