1 September, 2011

The scientific workshop to review fisheries management, held in Lisbon in May 2011, brought together 22 scientists and fisheries experts from around the world to consider the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on high seas bottom fisheries: what progress has been made and what the outstanding issues are. This report summarises the workshop conclusions, identifying examples of good practice and making recommendations in areas where it was agreed that the current management measures fall short of their target.

Available in English.

1 August, 2011

On the Workshop to a discuss the implementation of paragraphs 80 and 83 to 87 of resolution 61/105and paragraphs 117 and 119 to 127 of resolution 64/7 on sustainable fisheries.

Available in English.

1 June, 2011

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) has undertaken its 2011 review of bottom trawling, the third in recent years. The review builds on DSCC reviews of implementation of resolutions 61/105 and 64/72 in 2009 and 2010 and background papers prepared for the Busan workshop and a variety of scientific papers and reports, including from organizations attending Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), United Nations (UN) and other meetings.

Available in English.

1 August, 2010

Source: UNEP

Long overlooked, deep-water sponge grounds are now emerging as a key component of deep-sea ecosystems, creating complex habitats hosting manyother species. They are an important refuge in the deep ocean and they are also reservoirs of great species diversity, including commercially important fish. Playing a similar role to that of cold-water coral reefs with which they often co-occur, sponge grounds are even more ecologically and geographically diverse, consisting of many individual species and occurring in many places around the world.

Available in English.

 

1 June, 2010

Alex Rogers & Matthew Gianni

For the past eight years, the issue of protecting biodiversity in the deep sea in areas beyond national jurisdiction – the high seas – has been extensively debated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in other international fora. The UNGA adopted a series of resolutions, beginning with Resolution 59/25 in 2004, which called on high seas fishing nations and regional fisheries management organisations to take urgent action to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems from destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawl fishing, in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Available in English.

Part 1, 2, 3.