countries established the Benguela Current Commission. The convention On 18 March 2013, the governments of Angola, Namibia and South Africa signed the Benguela Current Convention. The objective of the Convention is to "promote a coordinated regional approach to the long-term conservation, protection, rehabilitation, enhancement and sustainable use of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, to provide economic, environmental and social benefits". The Convention is applied in all areas within the national sovereignty and jurisdiction in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, bounded by the high water mark along the coasts of the parties. In giving effect to the objective of the Benguela Current Convention, the countries are guided by the following principles: the cooperation, collaboration and sovereign equality principle; sustainable use and management of the marine resources; the precautionary principle; prevention, avoidance and mitigation of pollution; the polluter pays principle; protection of biodiversity in the marine environment and conservation of the marine ecosystem. The Benguela Current Convention will commit the governments of Angola, Namibia and South Africa to: take all possible steps to prevent, abate and minimize pollution and take the necessary measures to protect the marine ecosystem against any adverse impacts; undertake environmental impact assessment for proposed activities that are likely to cause adverse impacts on the marine and coastal environments; apply management measures based on the best scientific evidence available; establish mechanisms for inter-sectoral data collection, sharing and exchange; where possible, reverse and prevent habitat alteration and destruction; protect vulnerable species and biological diversity; and take all possible steps to strengthen and maintain human and infrastructural capacity. The Benguela Current Convention also sets out the structure and functions of the Benguela Current Commission, including the roles and responsibilities of its Secretariat and permanent committees. These are the Ecosystem Advisory Committee, Finance and Administration Committee and Compliance Committee. The Convention also stipulates that the decisions and recommendations of the Benguela Current Commission are to be taken by consensus and that the parties are obliged to cooperate to settle disputes. The languages of the Commission are English and Portuguese and the headquarters of the inter-governmental body are in Swakopmund, Namibia. Ratification The Benguela Current Convention was ratified by the Government of Namibia in 2013, and by the Government of Angola and the Government of South Africa in 2014. The Strategic Action Programme The Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Benguela Current Commission was held in