A global perspective on bottom fisheries in the high seas: challenges, opportunities and best practices Merete Tandstad FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department FISH AS FOOD SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FISH AND . Important source of animal SEAFOOD protein . Fish provides significant micro- . Importance of Fish as contributor nutrients, minerals, and to economy and employment essential fatty acids . Fish is among the most traded food commodities worldwide. The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Widening scope of fisheries management Fishery Ecological Human Ability to Achieve Wellbeing Wellbeing Retained Community Governance Non retained National External drivers General ecosystem Bottom Fisheries in the high seas • Not uniform and differ with respect to both main species and habitat, as well as gears used • Estimated total catch in 2014 of less than 150 000 tonnes • 75% of High Seas bottom catches are continental-shelf and/or upper slope. • Remaining 25% below 400 m, on various bottom structures including seamounts Region Main species Estimated catch 2014 (tonnes) NE Atlantic: round nose grenadier, rough head grenadier, black scabbard fish, ling, haddock, blue 10,941 ling, orange roughy, Snow crab, cod, Greenland halibut NW Atlantic: Redfish, cod, Greenland halibut, snow crab, thorny skate, yellowtail flounder, American 56,407 plaice, roughhead grenadier, witch flunder, Atlantic halibut, shrimp, haddock, white hake, anglerfish , round nose grenadier SE Atlantic red crab, toothfish, other bycatch 211 Indian Ocean Orange roughy, dogfish, Lethrinid emperors (Sala de Malha), Lutjanid snappers (Sala de about 7,000 Malha), Mora moro, traces of others North Pacific: Alfonsino, armourhead, mirror dory, oreo, rockfishes, and Sablefish 5,267 South Pacific: Mostly orange roughy 1,428 Southern Oceans Antarctic toothfish, Patagonian toothfish, grenadiers 3,941 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 UNGA UNGA UNGA UNGA UNGA 59/25 64/72 66/68 68/71 70/75 UNGA UNGA 61/105 69/109 UNGA WS UNGA WS 61/105 & 64/72 & 64/72 66/68 FAO DSF VME DB Busan GUIDE- Launch LINES DSF FAO DSF Programme PREP IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDANCE BY DEEP SEA RFMOs and States Changes in the Regional Bodies controlling High Seas Bottom Fishing 77% of the bottom fisheries in the ABNJ is managed by an RFMO or other multilateral body Note: In the Central Atlantic two RFBs with advisory mandates exist. WECAFC have just started to process of becoming a management body UNGA Aug 2016 Changes to the management of High Seas Bottom Fishing Note: SIOFA have just started the process of developing bottom fishing measures. In the interim period, management is undertaken by Contracting Parties via State measures, UNGA Aug 2016 VME related actions and measures • Fished areas Assessment and management of • VME indicators fish stocks to provide advice on • VME thresholds TACs, effort level, measures for • VME Encounter protocol bycatch, and technical measures • Exploratory fishing protocol etc • Impact assessments • SAIs • VME Closures • Observers • Identification guides Widened scope of issues addressed in fisheries management by RFMOs ABNJ “Common Oceans” Programme GEF-funded ABNJ Deep Seas project FAO Deep-sea Fisheries Programme SponGES (EU Horizon 20-20) VME Sust . FI - VME and Database Deep -sea RFMO Deep- Project Project sea Project (FRA) (NOR) (JPN) Deep Seas Project: partners Partners Funding: Secretariat of the Convention on Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Biological Diversity (CBD) Organization (NAFO) US$ 8 million Commission for the Conservation of from GEF for Antarctic Marine Living Resources Nairobi Convention 5 years (CCAMLR) Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS) North East Atlantic Fisheries Co-funding Commission (NEAFC) estimate US$ 79 million Duke University National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) General Fisheries Commission for Executing Agencies NPFC the Mediterranean (GFCM) South East Atlantic Fisheries Global Oceans Biodiversity Initiative Organisation (SEAFO) (GOBI) GRID-Arendal Sealord Group Southern Indian Ocean International Coalition of Fisheries Deepwater Fishers Association Associations (ICFA) (SIODFA) International Union for Conservation South Pacific Regional Fisheries of Nature (IUCN) Management Organisation (SPRFMO) Documenting progress made • Processes and actions taken to address SAIs on VMEs are documented by RFMOs and compiled in the global VME database and in the upcoming report on VME processes and practices. • Approach taken not always the same in each region DSF & VMEs DSF & VMEs WECAFC VMEs NPFC Barbados, GFCM Japan, 2014 Italy, 2016 2014 VMEs Indian Ocean Mauritius, 2012 DSF & VMEs CECAF 2016 VMEs Raise awareness on and SEAFO exchange of experience on Namibia, addressing VME related issues 2013 ISSUES WITH IMPLEMENTATION: ENCOUNTER PROTOCOLS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS • In May 2015, FAO held a combined workshop on encounter protocols and impact assessments in the context of deepsea bottom fisheries in the ABNJ, in collaboration with IMR • Participants: scientists, the fishing industry, managers, and NGOs contributed regional knowledge and lessons learned on the application of encounter protocols and impact assessments from their perspectives and experiences • Outputs: 8 observations on encounter protocls and 8 on impact assessments: Improving information and knowledge on fisheries, fisheries related instruments, and species • Sharing information on existing instruments of relevance for deep-sea fisheries • Exchange of experience and knowledge from scientific community • Partnerships with industry to facilitate reporting • Tools for improved identification and reporting of vulnerable species • Encourage data collection and facilitate research Future considerations • Continue efforts to support states and RFMOs to implement the suite of measures developed • Compile information on these fisheries and share best practice • Maintain and expand Partnerships • Continued engagement with fishing industry for improved reporting and data collection • Support exploration of alternative methods for assessments using new technology and methods for data limited stocks • Issues in Implementation • Organize Busan II meeting on looking at challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the DSF Guidelines and UNGA Resolutions Thank you .