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Deep-sea fisheries in the areas beyond national jurisdiction

Ensuring sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems

Year of publication 2020

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 16 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Deep-sea fisheries are those that take place on or near to the sea floor at depths of a few hundred metres down to 1 500 metres or more. Many deep-sea fisheries take place in waters of the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) that is also considered the high seas. The great depths and distances from the coast pose scientific and technical challenges. The deep-sea ecosystems have become the iconic “last frontier” for the expansion of marine fisheries but have also raised concerns around their impact on biodiversity. However, these fisheries were at their peak in the 1970s-1990s, and have since stabilized at lower more sustainable catches with reduced numbers of vessels and improved monitoring and mitigation of impacts on biodiversity.

Language English

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    Document
    Deep-sea fisheries in the high seas - Ensuring sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems. 2009
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    Deep-sea fisheries are fisheries that take place at great depths (up to 1 600 metres). Deep-sea fisheries that occur in waters beyond national jurisdiction (such as the exclusive economic zone ¿ EEZ), take place in the high seas. The great depths and distances from the coast at which marine living resources are caught by deep-sea fisheries in the high seas pose scientific and technical challenges in providing scientific support for management. A great deal of work has been accomplished in the last few years, in terms of achieving responsible management of these fisheries, but much remains to be done in creating more appropriate institutions. RFMOs/As will need to be established where they do not exist or duly mandated to address deep-sea high seas fisheries. States and RFMO/As will also need to pursue efforts initiated in implementing international guidance and developing the appropriate set of policies and measures required for the effective management of fisheries and conservat ion of marine biodiversity. The FAO International Guidelines provide a good framework and starting point to develop that kind of approach. FAO is building up a special programme to support the effective implementation of the guidelines through, inter alia, institutional building, policy development, improvement of methodologies and management for the identification of VMEs and the development of appropriate fisheries management approaches.
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    Book (series)
    Terminal evaluation of the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) Deep-Sea project, part of the “Sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation of deep-sea living marine resources and ecosystems in ABNJ”
    Project code: GCP/GLO/366/GFF GEF ID: 4660
    2020
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    The marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) comprises 40 percent of the earth’s surface, it covers 64 percent of the surface of the ocean and 95 percent of its volume. The Common Oceans ABNJ Program (2014-2019) was implemented by FAO as a concerted effort to bring various stakeholders to work together to manage and conserve the world’s common oceans. The ABNJ Deep-Sea project, one component of the Common Oceans ABNJ Program, was of great assistance to newly-formed regional fisheries management organization and arrangements (RFMO/As), as well as some long-standing regional fisheries. The project showed positive results in safeguarding vulnerable marine ecosystems, strengthening monitoring, control and surveillance to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, mitigating bycatch mortality trends, and building awareness of cross-sectoral aspects in effective governance of ABNJ. Through its cooperation with RFMOs, the project has, to some extent, contributed to minimize the negative impacts of bycatch. Results achieved should be capitalized on and upscaled in a second phase.
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    Document
    Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation of Deep-Sea Living Marine Resources and Ecosystems in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 2017
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    The ABNJ Deep Seas Project is a five-year project designed to enhance sustainability in the use of deep-sea living marine resources and biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).
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