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Common Oceans Global sustainable management and conservation in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction ceans make up 70 percent of our planet and are a source of health and wealth for millions of people around the world. They serve as waterways for trade and contain rich, valuable and diverse . Oceans and coastal areas provide a vital source of nutritious , employment, recreation, commerce and socio-economic benefits as wellO as other crucial goods and services. All in all, over one in ten people depend on fisheries for their livelihoods and well-being. Travel and tourism, ports and associated infrastructures, activities and production also use oceans and seas to create jobs and other opportunities. Yet, numerous threats are compromising the ability of the oceans to continue providing vital services and essential food . Despite noteworthy progress, there is a clear need to address the remaining obstacles.

Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction he marine Areas Beyond National resources and biodiversity conservation in Jurisdiction (ABNJ) are those those areas difficult and challenging. These areas of ocean for which no one ecosystems are subject to impacts from a nation has the specific or sole variety of sectors including shipping, pollution, responsibilityT for management. They are the deep-sea mining and . Addressing such common oceans that make up 40 percent of the impacts can be compounded by problems surface of our planet, comprising 64 percent of in coordinating, disseminating and building the surface of the oceans and nearly 95 percent capacity for best practices and in capitalizing of their volume. on successful experiences – especially those related to the management of fisheries in ABNJ. The ABNJ consist of the high seas and the Without urgent action, marine biodiversity and seabed beyond the (extended) continental socio-economic well-being will decline and the shelf of coastal States and include complex value and benefits of these resources for current ecosystems at vast distances from coasts, and future generations dependant on fisheries making of fisheries resources will diminish.

ABNJ Program – Protecting vulnerable and important ecosystems and species

eeking to generate a catalytic change the Global sustainable fisheries the ABNJ Program aims to promote efficient management and biodiversity and sustainable management of fisheries conservation in the Areas Beyond resources and biodiversity conservation in NationalS Jurisdiction Program, was approved ABNJ to achieve the global targets agreed in by the Council of the Global Environment international fora. Facility (GEF) in November 2011. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) The five-year ABNJ Program is an innovative, is the coordinating agency in close collaboration with unique and comprehensive initiative working two other GEF implementing agencies, the United with a variety of partners. It is made of four Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the projects which bring together governments, World Bank, as well as other partners. and executing regional management bodies, civil society, partners, including RFMOs, industry, and NGOs. the private sector, academia and industry to work towards ensuring the sustainable use Focusing on tuna and deep-sea fisheries, in and conservation of ABNJ biodiversity and parallel with the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem services. Who will benefit from the ABNJ Program?

isheries in ABNJ contribute to benefits, related to both use and non-use values, employment, nutrition and trade. At due to the increased health and potential for long- the same time healthy ecosystems term use of these important natural resources. are vitally important for marine biodiversityF and for maintaining the resources we The Program can also help States better fulfill their depend on for food and other ecosystem services. obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, particularly regarding the Although the benefits vary greatly among areas, conservation and management of living resources millions of families in both developing and and ecosystems in the high seas and the developed countries depend on fishing jobs and Convention of Biodiversity, especially Aichi Targets associated activities – from boat construction to 6 & 11. It will further promote the Code of Conduct harvesting and marketing seafood. The ABNJ for Responsible Fisheries and relevant UN General Program is intended to help ensure their food Assembly resolution and other international and livelihoods security through the long-term instruments. It will also respond to global calls to management and of ABNJ fisheries reduce specific issues such as illegal, unreported and the ecosystems on which they depend. and unregulated fishing presently and encourage Improved fisheries management and conservation sustainable ecosystem-based practices. of biodiversity will lead to global economic

Fish are a primary source of protein for 17% of the world’s – and nearly 25% in low‑income food deficit countries. Capture fisheries and contribute, either directly or indirectly, to over 200 million jobs globally. are one of the most traded food commodities worldwide.

What difference can the ABNJ Program make?

he ABNJ Program offers an opportunity to move further – and to move together with all partners – by leveraging resources, knowledge and experience from partners to bring about transformational changes. By providing leadership in making the sustainability of ABNJ a priority, ultimately, the Program will lead to improved global sustainable fisheries managementT and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ. The Program concentrates on short-term milestones as part of a long-term plan to establish the strong networks, best management practices and facilitated information sharing needed to make a transformational impact towards responsible and sustainable use of ABNJ resources. It aims to:

• move towards the ecosystem approach and rights-based systems and away from the race to fish • increase our ability to protect fragile ecosystems • foster international and cross-sectoral coordination and sharing of information

By effectively managing fisheries and conservation of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, the promise of sustaining the oceans and its benefits for future generations can be fulfilled. Project 1 million inco-financing leveraged byoverUS$150.8 US$30 millioninGEFgrants Financing: (RFMOs) Management Organizations Tuna Regional Partners: an ecosystemapproach systematic applicationof conservation throughthe production andbiodiversity and efficienttunafisheries Achieve sustainable Objective: Fund forNature of America)andtheWorld Wide Administration (UnitedStates Oceanic andAtmospheric Foundation, National Seafood Sustainability International, International 1 Pacific FisheriesCommission(WCPFC) –seealsowww.fao.org/fishery/rfb/search/en Article XIVoftheFAO constitution,CommissionfortheConservationofSouthern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), Western andCentral Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), IndianOceanTuna Commission(IOTC)whichisan intergovernmentalorganizationestablishedunder ThefivetunaRFMOs:Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), InternationalCommissionfortheConservation of 1 , BirdLife in ABNJ Biodiversity Conservation of T Sustainable Management national andregionallevels–especiallyt-RFMOs,theirmember collective actionandpartneringbyallstakeholdersatglobal, deteriorate furtheriffisheriesmanagementisnotimproved. With of fishingfleets,thestatusexistingtunastocksislikelyto With thestrongdemandfortuna,combinedwithovercapacity tunas isestimatedatoverUS$10billionannually. internationally tradedseafood.Thevalueofthemostimportant – incommercialquantitieswithyearlyexportsabout8%ofall tuna –amongthemostcommercially-valuablemarineresources responsibility ofthefivet-RFMOs.Over85countriesharvest of allmarinecapturefisheriesandtheirmanagementisthedirect Highly migratorytunaspeciesaccountforabout20%ofthevalue • • • This projectfocusesonthreeareas: andassociatedspecies Reducing ecosystemimpactsfromtunafishing,including Surveillance (MCS) through strengthenedandharmonizedMonitoring,Control Reducing illegal,unreportedandunregulated(IUU)fishing management andfishingpractices Supporting implementationofsustainableandefficientfisheries una Fisheriesand countries and the tuna industry – ABNJ fisheries and ecosystems will be able to contribute effectively to the socio- economic development and food and livelihoods security of the millions of people involved in these fisheries for generations to come.

Working with key stakeholders, this project strives for efficiency and sustainability in tuna production and biodiversity conservation, through the application of an ecosystem approach. This unique project draws together a large and diverse group of stakeholders – from consumers and industry to t-RFMOs, NGOs and international organizations – who play important roles in tuna fisheries. They will build on existing collaborations to facilitate optimal use of scarce capacity and resources in order to achieve the global goals for sustainable fishing and biodiversity conservation. Certain aspects will focus on all RFMOs, including Member countries, while other elements will concentrate on priority countries, regions and fisheries with a view towards capacity development. Project 2 in co-financing leveraged withUS$79million US$8.4 millioninGEFgrants Financing: SPRFMO, SEAFO) Interim NPFC,NAFO,NEAFC, RFMO/As (GFCM,CCAMLR, IUCN, NOAA,deep-sea (SIODFA), theSealordGroup, Deepsea FishersAssociation Southern IndianOcean Associations (ICFA), the Coalition ofFisheries Convention, theInternational UNEP-WCMC, TheNairobi Partners: Executing approach application ofanecosystem ABNJ throughthesystematic biodiversity conservationin living resourcesandimproving sustainable useofdeep-sea Achieve efficientand Objective: others the SouthPacific(CPPS),and Permanent Commissionfor 2 Organisation (SPRFMO), SouthEastAtlanticFisheriesOrganisation (SEAFO) Fisheries Organisation (NAFO),NorthEastAtlanticFisheries Commission(NEAFC),SouthPacific RegionalFisheriesManagement Resources (CCAMLR),InterimSecretariat fortheNorthPacificFisheriesCommission(InterimNPFC),Northwest Atlantic GeneralFisheriesCommissionforthe Mediterranean(GFCM),CommissionontheConservationofAntarcticMarine Living 2 , the in ABNJ Resources andEcosystems of Deep-seaLiving Biodiversity Conservation Management and Sustainable Fisheries global sustainableuseandconservationofthesemarineresources. of bestpracticesandaddressotherkeyissuesnecessaryforthe undertaken. Thisprojectseekstobuildonsuchefforts,make use responsible forthemanagementoffishstocksinABNJ,have been the regionalfisheriesmanagementorganizations(RFMO/As) In response,concertedeffortsbymanyorganizations,suchas biodiversity, hasbecomeanissueofinternational concern. of fishingonthesecriticalhabitatsthatsupportgloballysignificant organisms andmarinemammals.Thepotentialnegativeimpact columnabovethemserveashabitatsformanybenthic these fisheriestakeplaceareunique–theseamountsand states. Fromabiodiversityviewpoint,theecosystemsinwhich worth morethanUS$400millionandinvolvedatleast27flag approximately 60deep-seaspecieswasaround250000tonnes activities –FAO estimatesthatthetotalglobalcatchin2006of These deep-seafisheriescompriseavaluablepartofABNJ structures suchasseamounts,ridgesystemsandbanks. jurisdiction oncontinentalslopesorisolatedoceanictopographic Deep-sea fisheriesinthehighseasoccurwatersbeyondnational This project focuses on four areas: • Improved implementation of existing policy and legal frameworks • Reduced adverse impacts on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and enhanced conservation and management of components of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) • Improved planning and for deep-sea fisheries in ABNJ • Development and testing of a methodology for area-based planning

It will contribute to improving deep-sea fisheries management and biodiversity conservation, through the harmonization of conservation and sustainable use following the principles of the ecosystem approach while testing innovative and appropriate management tools. The successful implementation of this Project would represent a significant step towards the sustainable use of deep- sea as well as protection of associated bycatch species, ecosystems, and biodiversity in ABNJ. Project 3 million inco-financing leveraged withatleastUS$40 US$10 millioninGEFgrants Financing: potential projectlocations be identifiedrespectiveto other executingpartnerswill Conservation International; PartnerS: beyond nationaljurisdiction spanning areaswithinand several differentfisherieseach sustainable managementof investment inlong-term, Develop businessplansfor Objective: Economic Zones that straddledevelopingcountries’coastaljurisdictions(Exclusive investment inbettermanagedfisheriesbasedonmigratorystocks This projectaimstosupportpilotpublicandprivatesector and Reform – ModelsforInnovation Biodiversity Conservation Sustainable Fisheriesand Ocean Partnershipsfor 4 3 ocean biodiversityconservation. benefits tocoastalandislanddevelopingcountrieswhileenhancing pilots willcontributetoincreasingsustainable,neteconomic (2013-16) bypublicorprivatecapitalmarkets.Onceimplemented, rationale andfeasibilitytoattractinvestmentinpilotimplementation plans willincorporatetheeconomic,technicalandfinancial spanning areaswithinandbeyondnationaljurisdiction.Business term, sustainablemanagementofseveraldifferentfisherieseach The projectaimstodevelopbusinessplansforinvestmentin long- • • • regional executionagenciesandfocusesonthreeareas: The projectwillbeimplementedbytheWorld Bankthrough existing andplannedWorld BankIDA/IBRD Co-financing willbeavailablethroughGPOpartnersandincludes and therecentlyconvenedGlobalPartnershipforOceans(GPO). will contributedirectlytotheobjectivesofbothABNJProgram through reformsinthewaysfisheriesaremanaged.Theproject from livingmarineresources.Suchbenefitswillbeachieved deliver enhancedeconomic,socialandenvironmentalbenefits and helpdevelopfourpilotinvestmentswithhighpotentialto and Development. the seawardedgeofstate'sterritorial seato200 nauticalmilesfromitscoast. special rightsovertheexplorationand useofmarineresources,stretchingfrom InternationalDevelopmentAssociation/ InternationalBankforReconstruction Exclusiveeconomiczone(EEZ)refers tothoseareasoverwhichastatehas Monitoring andevaluationofpilotslessonlearning An innovationfundsupportingthebusinessplans ocean areas transformational pilotsforsustainablefisheriesinpriority Definition anddevelopmentofbusinessplansforlong-term 3 ) andABNJ.Morespecifically, itwillidentify 4 investments. • • • focuses onthreeareas: Building ontheeffortsofotherprojectsandpartners,thisproject effectively manageABNJ. outreach andknowledgemanagementtostrengthencapacity sectoral dialogue,engagementofhigh-leveldecision-makers,public This projectwillplayakeyroleinbuildingandimprovingcross- Manage ABNJ Capacity toEffectively Strengthening Global - - Knowledge ManagementandOutreach,through: - - Capacity Development,through: - - Global andRegionalCross-SectoralDialogues,through: ------generated across alltheseprogramprojects. information, dataandbestpractices onrelatedABNJissues The CommonOceanswebportaldesignedtoprovide important ABNJissues. specialists toimproveandexpand effortstoraiseawarenesson Public outreachnetworkpartnering withjournalistsandmedia global ABNJprocesses. participation ofregionalleadersfromdevelopingcountriesin Regional ABNJLeadersFellowshipProgramsupportingthe share andexchangeinformation. with relevantexperienceandknowledgeinABNJissuesto non‑governmental organizations,UNagenciesandindustry up ofexpertpractitionersfromacademia,governments, Communities ofPracticeinkeyABNJissue-areas,made involvement infutureABNJpolicydiscussionsatvariouslevels. to fisheriesandbiodiversityconservationencouragetheir on ABNJissues,solicittheirinputkeyissuesrelated relevant meetingstoraisetheawarenessofdecisionmakers High-level information sessionsandeventsheldatmajor regional levels. understanding onABNJacrosssectorsandbetweenglobal linkagesforimprovedinformation-sharingand Establishing • • • information by: ABNJ, includingexchangeof and regionalcoordinationon Promote effectiveglobal Objective: in co-financing leveraged withUS$4.6million US$1.09 millioninGEFgrants Financing: and others University, SeaOrbiter of UNESCO,VietnamNational Oceanographic Commission Network, Intergovernmental la Mer(France),World Ocean Nausicaä CentreNationalde Development (IDDRI), Relations andSustainable Institute forInternational Marine ProtectedAreasagency, (co‑executing Agency),French Global OceanForum Partners: ecosystem threatstoABNJ understanding ofthe broadening public activities and coordinationofABNJ processes formanagement capability toparticipatein increasing decision-makers’ policy coordinationinABNJ cross-sectoral dialogueand strengthening andbroadening

Project 4 Overall ABNJ Program structure – bringing it all together

FAO, serving as the Global Program Coordination Unit, will be supported by a Global Steering Committee comprised of representation from key partners and a Technical Advisory Group made of scientific and technical experts working to ensure participation and full involvement of key partners from the policy, technical and scientific communities as well as industry.

Global Steering Committee

Technical Advisory Group

Global Program Coordination Unit (hosted by FAO)

Tuna fisheries Deep-sea fisheries Ocean Strengthening & biodiversity & biodiversity Partnerships global capacity conservation conservation

For more information, contact: I2943E/04.14 FishCode Manager FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations e-mail: [email protected]

Visit: www.commonoceans.org

© FAO, 2014