Deep Trouble for the Deep Sea

The Pew Environment Group, an active member of the DSCC, has just released this new video featuring spectacular images and a most important message: the deep sea is in deep trouble!   Check out the video and check out their Protecting the Deep Sea campaign.

Closed Areas Do Work

FishNewsEU reports that Australia’s eastern stock of Orange Roughy is rebuilding well.  The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the national government body for scientific research in Australia, has concluded that the eastern stock increased by 7,400 tonnes between 2006 and 2010. 

Why the increase?  Because Australia took the important step and created closed areas to allow the stock to rebuild.  This offers hope for Orange Roughy, which has been severely overfished around the world.

See here for footage of orange roughy down in the deep:

Unfinished Business: A Review of the Implementation of the Provisions of UNGA Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72

This week the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) releases a new report, Unfinished Business: A Review of the Implementation of the Provisions of UNGA Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72 (PDF).  

The report assesses compliance with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on high seas bottom fishing.  It is the culmination of many months of engagement with world renowned scientists and our partner organizations.

The assessment finds that:

1) While progress has been made in identifying and protecting some vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) as called for in 61/105 and 64/72, the efforts taken to date are far from comprehensive;

2) The environmental impact assessments of fishing activities called for in both resolutions have not been completed for the majority of bottom fisheries; and

3) Deep-sea fisheries for many species remain unregulated, contrary to explicit language calling for such regulation in both resolutions.

Based on this assessment, the DSCC has concluded that high seas fishing States are, with few exceptions, failing to live up to the provisions of UNGA resolutions 61/105 and 64/72. As a result, deep-sea species are increasingly overexploited and VMEs continue to be significantly damaged.

Looking forward, we hope the international community will act responsibly and implement these resolutions.  If not, these vulnerable species and habitats may be lost forever.

The UN Workshop on Bottom Fishing

Credit: UN Photo/Joao Araujo Pinto on Flickr

This week, September 15-16, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is holding a workshop reviewing what has been done to limit the impact of bottom fishing on high seas ecosystems.  The review comes just two years after the UN found that resolutions adopted in 2006 and 2009 calling for protective measures were not being fully implemented. 

The official title of the workshop is as follows:

Workshop to discuss implementation of paragraphs 80 and 83 to 87 of resolution 61/105 and paragraphs 117 and 119 to 127 of resolution 64/72 on sustainable fisheries, addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stocks

You wouldn’t know it from the title, but this workshop is actually quite special.  For the first time ever, the UN will conduct an open review of national and regional actions with regards to deep-sea protection.  In the past, negotiations have taken place behind closed doors leaving few opportunities for civil society to advocate for sustainable resource management practices and the conservation of biodiversity.  This time around, we have been given the opportunity to directly share our views and those of leading scientists who are engaged in deep-sea research. 

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) will be present at the workshop along with numerous coalition member groups.  We’ll hold a side event and an evening reception to inform and encourage action among policymakers, and coalition partners and DSCC leadership will participate in expert panels scheduled into the main agenda.

We hope the conclusions from the workshop will influence the UNGA – and in particular certain countries who are engaged in high seas bottom fishing and regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) – to take much stronger action to see that resolutions protecting the deep sea are implemented.  Learn more about those resolutions here.

We at the DSCC are specifically urging the General Assembly to call for:

1. The immediate cessation of high seas bottom fishing except where conservation measures consistent with UNGA resolutions are in force and have been effectively and fully implemented;

2. The protection of all vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) as identified by the UN FAO, including long-lived fish species, spawning areas on the high seas and unique habitats such as seamounts and canyons; and,

3. The designation of high seas bottom fishing as illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing when it is conducted in contravention of international instruments, including UNGA resolutions.

Roundnose Goes to Paris

Roundnose Grenadier continues to travel the world in search of support. Just last week, Roundnose Grenadier visited Paris to take in the sites and spread the message that the deep sea is worth saving.

The first stop was the Eiffel Tower. Roundnose was a bit confused why you'd build something so tall. After all, there are plenty of enormous seamounts to admire in the ocean!

Afterwards, Roundnose visited the famous Louvre. Though he likes classic Rome sculpture, he spent a while admiring landscape paintings. Just recently Roundnose has considered taking up painting in water colors.

And finally, Roundnose visited the famous Arc de Triomphe. Completed in 1836, it's just a little bit older than Roundnose's friend Orange Roughy (who's at the ripe old age of 150!)

Learn more about where Roundnose Grenadier has been here.

Merry-Go-Roundnose

Round and around we go, where will we stop?  We really don't know.  As leading international scientists recently pointed out, the deep sea is in need of protection, yet policy lags.

CLICK HERE to see a quick animation and learn which countries are causing problems this week!

I Am Worth Saving!!!

Want to save the deep sea?  Then click HERE to give the roundnose grenadier a makeover and send your photo to the UN Secretary General.  Click "Create Your Fish" to send this message to Ban Ki-moon:

Deep sea life must be protected from destructive bottom fishing. It is unacceptable that the UN General Assembly's resolutions of 2006 and 2009 have not been followed. In your review of bottom fishing this September, it is critical that all high seas fishing nations follow all of the UN General Assembly resolutions - or stop deep sea bottom fishing. Deep sea fishing in breach of the UN resolutions is illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. The UN must make this clear, and this damaging and unsustainable fishing must stop.