Report of the WORKSHOP ON DATA AND KNOWLEDGE IN DEEP-SEA FISHERIES IN THE HIGH SEAS

FAO Fisheries Report No. 860

Report of the WORKSHOP ON DATA AND KNOWLEDGE IN DEEP-SEA FISHERIES IN THE HIGH SEAS

Rome, 5-7 November 2007



FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Rome 2008

CONTENTS

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PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

The expansion of deep-sea fisheries from coastal waters under national jurisdiction towards high seas areas, and their potential impact on fish stocks, biodiversity and habitat, the management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas has become an issue of international concern.

The FAO 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, Queenstown, New Zealand). The inability to manage without data, the need for full documentation of fishery activity and national requirements for confidentiality of data, the different requirements for different fisheries - with many of the same problems, and the balance of harvest optimism versus management precaution, are just a few of the lessons learned from past experience in deep-sea fisheries mentioned in the synthesis of issues at DEEP SEA 2003.

FAO also convened an Expert Consultation on Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas in November 2006 that addressed management issues. The management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas has also been a major source of concern at high level international fora, including United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Convention on Biological Diversity, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) meetings and others over the past few years.

As recognized at Deep Sea 2003, it is impossible to effectively manage deep-sea fisheries without appropriate data. In addition, lack of knowledge and poor monitoring of the fishing activities associated with deep-sea fisheries in the high seas have been constantly reported. Improvement of collection, exchange and dissemination of information regarding these fisheries is recognized as a required step towards their effective and sustainable management. The conclusions and recommendations of the 2006 FAO Expert Consultation also identified many of the same issues. The most recent UNGA Resolution (61/105) called on, "FAO...to establish a time table of relevant work with respect to the management of the deep sea fisheries in the high seas, including enhancing data collection and dissemination, promoting information exchange and increased knowledge on deep sea fishing activities, such as through convening a meeting of States engaged in such fisheries...". In addition, the resolution commended FAO on its work regarding deep-sea fisheries and invited the Organization to further its work on the topic.

This workshop was organized in answer to the gaps in data and knowledge identified by many of the approved mentioned organizations and conferences, and in direct support to the development of the International Guidelines on Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas. Alexis Bensch and Dominique Gréboval organized and convened the workshop with support from and Jean-Jacques Maguire, FAO Consultant, and Jessica Sanders, FAO Consultant. The workshop was organized under the project "Promotion of sustainable fisheries: support for the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development".

 

FAO.
Report of the Workshop on Data and Knowledge in Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas. Rome, 5-7 November 2007.
FAO Fisheries Report. No. 860. Rome, FAO. 2008. 15p.

ABSTRACT

This document contains the report of the Workshop on Data and Knowledge in Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas held in Rome from 5 to 7 November 2007. The Workshop was convened to review an initial draft of the International Guidelines as called for by the FAO Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-seventh session in 2007. This expert consultation was preceded by the Expert Consultation on Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, held in Bangkok, in November 2006. The consultation adopted a draft of the international guidelines to be forwarded on to a technical consultation for review and adoption.

CONTENTS

List of acronyms

Opening of the meeting and arrangements for the session

Election of the Chairperson

Adoption of the agenda

Objectives of the Workshop

Discussion on the World Wide Review of Bottom Fisheries in the High Seas

Review of the International Guidelines on the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas

Recommendations of the Workshop

Adoption of the report

APPENDIXES
 


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