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Common Oceans Program - Deep-sea fisheries

Partnership for sustainability and biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction












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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Common Oceans Program side event: a global partnership supporting UNFSA 2023
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    The Common Oceans Program is a global alliance of stakeholders and partners – including regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), intergovernmental organizations, civil society and the private sector – for transformational change, promoting sustainable use of marine resources and strengthened biodiversity conservation in the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), in face of a changing environment. Sustainable management of straddling and highly migratory species is at the core of the Program, with two projects focused on improving the management of tuna and deepsea fish stocks in the ABNJ. In particular, the projects aim to strengthen cooperation among RFMOs, implement the precautionary and ecosystem approach to fisheries, and address data gaps and compliance challenges by applying innovative tools and approaches. Furthermore, the Program promotes cooperation and coherence in the governance of ABNJ through cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation. This side event focuses on the achievements so far and the challenges and opportunities for the second phase of the Common Oceans Program in an evolving environment, taking into account the progress in the international legislative framework. The event will provide the opportunity for RFMO, government, civil society and industry partners to share their experiences on cooperation for sustainable fisheries management in line with UNFSA recommendations.
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    Technical report
    Report on cross-sectoral impacts on deep-sea fisheries in the high seas 2025
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    This report presents a baseline study to evaluate the potential for cross-sector cooperation as a significant work strand under the “Deep-Seas Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach” (DSF Project) component of the 2nd Phase of the GEF Common Oceans Programme. Deep-sea fisheries (DSF) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) occur at depths between 200 and 2 000 metres, and typically require large vessels, long periods at sea, and target species with a high market value. The demersal and benthic species targeted vary from region to region but are often fished on specific areas of continental slopes and isolated topographic features (e.g. oceanic seamounts). Many deep-sea fish are long-lived, slow-growing, and mature at a relatively old age. The low resilience and high vulnerability of these species means that individual marine sectors and the cumulative impact of human activities can adversely affect fish populations for whom fisheries management is regulated by deep-sea regional fisheries management organizations (dsRFMOs). A desk study to screen and scope marine sectors (in a timeframe up to 2050) revealed varying impacts on deep-sea fish, deep-sea habitats, deep-sea food webs (upon which the fish depend), and/or deep-sea fishers.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Strengthening deep-sea fisheries management in areas beyond national jurisdiction 2024
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    This course was developed by the Common Oceans Deep-Sea Fisheries Project, which brings together a global partnership dedicated to advance responsible deep-sea fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It covers both the policy and legal, as well as the operational aspects of management, and outlines the roles and responsibilities of States at both national and regional levels.