FAO Fisheries Report No. 855 Report of the EXPERT CONSULTATION ON INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DEEP-SEA FISHERIES IN THE HIGH SEASBangkok, 11-14 September 2007 |
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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome 2008 |
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ISBN 978-92-5-105937-1
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© FAO 2008
PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT The Committee on Fisheries (COFI) first discussed deep-sea fisheries at its twenty-fifth session in 2003 and supported the proposal for an international conference on the topic (DEEP SEA 2003, Wellington and Kingston, New Zealand). The management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas has also been a major source of concern at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings over the past few years. The most recent UNGA Resolution (61/105) called on "States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystem..." In addition, the resolution commended FAO on its work regarding deep-sea fisheries and invited the organization to further its work on the topic. The vulnerability of deep-sea ecosystems and present management challenges in the high seas has been discussed not only in the context of global fora, but also in the realm of many international, regional and national institutions and non-governmental organizations which have been working to bring the issue to international attention. This Expert Consultation followed the Expert Consultation on Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas (Bangkok, 21-24 November 2006) which sought to further develop understanding of the management of deep-sea fisheries and endeavoured to advance guidance on potential technical guidelines for the conservation and management of deep-sea fisheries. In answer to the request by the twenty-seventh session of COFI to produce guidelines on the management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas, draft guidelines were developed and this Expert Consultation was convened to review those guidelines. Draft guidelines were presented to the expert consultation which then reviewed the document, made specific recommendations and adopted a new draft (as attached in Appendix D). The draft guidelines will be presented to a technical consultation for review. The expert consultation is part of a series of activities designed to address issues of high-seas deep-sea fisheries. Funding was provided by the Government of Japan (through a project entitled, "Promotion of sustainable fisheries: support for the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development"). The consultation was organized and convened by Dominique Gréboval (Development and Planning Service, FIEP) with support from Ross Shotton (Fisheries Management and Conservation Service, FIMF), Blaise Kuemlangan (Development Law Service, LEGN), Alexis Bensch (Development and Planning Service, FIEP) and Jessica Sanders (Development and Planning Service, FIEP). The drafting of the document and assistance was provided by Jean-Jacques Maguire (Fisheries Management and Conservation Service, FIMF) and Marianne Guyonnet (International Institutions and Liason Service, FIEL) provided secretarial support. This report includes an overview of the discussions held during the consultation, and also presents the draft international guidelines as adopted by participants. |
FAO. Report of the Expert Consultation on International Guidelines for the Management of Deepsea Fisheries in the High Seas. Bangkok, 11-14 September 2007. FAO Fisheries Report. No. 855. Rome, FAO. 2008. 39p. ABSTRACT |
OVERVIEW OF THE MEETING AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SESSION
ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSONS
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
REVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTATION
REVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES
ADOPTION OF THE REPORT
APPENDIXES