AGREEMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION 1
In pursuance of a recommendation of the FAO Conference at its Third Session (1947), an Agreement for the Establishment of the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council (IPFC), was drawn up by the Governments concerned at Baguio in February 1948 and subsequently approved by the FAO Conference at its Fourth Session (November 1948).
The Agreement, in accordance with Article IX (now XI) thereof, came into force on 9 November 1948, date of receipt of the fifth instrument of acceptance. The Agreement was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations on 28 January 1952 under No. 1615.
Amendments were approved by the FAO Conference at its Eleventh Session (November 1961). At its Seventeenth Session (1976), the IPFC reviewed the Agreement of 1948, by which it had been established, and adopted a series of amendments thereto which were approved by the FAO Council at its Seventy-second Session (November 1977). The amendments referred to in this paragraph entered into force for all the parties to the Agreement.
Amendments proposed by the Commission were approved by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Seventh Session (November 1994). They took effect immediately. The amendments consisted principally in the change of name of the Commission to read "Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC)".
Amendments adopted by the Commission at its Twenty-fifth Session in October 1996 were approved by the FAO Council at its Hundred and Twelfth Session in June 1997. They took effect immediately. The scope of the amendments was to reinforce and update the terms of reference of the Commission.
The following participants deposited their instruments of acceptance on the corresponding date indicated:
| Participant |
Acceptance |
| Australia |
10 Mar 1949 |
| Bangladesh |
17 Jul 1974 |
| Cambodia |
19 Jan 1951 |
| China |
23 Jul 1993 |
| France |
30 Jun 1948 |
| India |
9 Nov 1948 |
| Indonesia |
23 Mar 1950 |
| Japan |
3 Oct 1952 |
| Korea, Republic of |
19 Jan 1950 |
| Malaysia |
15 Sep 1958 |
| Myanmar |
7 Jan 1949 |
| Nepal |
23 Mar 1978 |
| Netherlands 2 |
12 Nov 1948 |
| New Zealand |
6 Sep 1966 |
| Pakistan |
1 Aug 1949 |
| Philippines |
23 Jul 1948 |
| Sri Lanka |
21 Feb 1949 |
| Thailand |
6 Oct 1948 |
| United Kingdom |
28 Feb 1949 |
| United States of America |
3 Sep 1948 |
| Viet Nam |
3 Jan 1951 |
| notes 1. The Commission was first designated as the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council. At its Seventeenth Session in 1976, the Council adopted the title "Indo-Pacific Fishery Commission". The relevant amendment to the Agreement was approved by the Council in 1977. The present designation was adopted by the Commission at its Twenty-fourth Session in 1993. The relevant amendment to the Agreement was approved by the FAO Council at its Hundred and seventh Session in 1994. Back to text |
| 2. On 1 March 1974, the Director-General received a notification of withdrawal from the Netherlands. In accordance with paragraph 1, Article XII (now XIII) of the Agreement, the notification of withdrawal became effective three months from the date of its receipt by the Director-General. |