Report on cross-sectoral impacts on deep-sea fisheries in the high seas

Johnson, D.E.; Turner, P.J.; Barrio Froján, C.;

Report on cross-sectoral impacts on deep-sea fisheries in the high seas

Autores

Johnson, D.E.; Turner, P.J.; Barrio Froján, C.;

Editor

FAO ;

Descripción

This report presents a baseline study to evaluate the potential for cross-sector cooperation as a significant work strand under the “Deep-Seas Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach” (DSF Project) component of the 2nd Phase of the GEF Common Oceans Programme. Deep-sea fisheries (DSF) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) occur at depths between 200 and 2 000 metres, and typically require large vessels, long periods at sea, and target species with a high market value. The demersal and benthic species targeted vary from region to region but are often fished on specific areas of continental slopes and isolated topographic features (e.g. oceanic seamounts). Many deep-sea fish are long-lived, slow-growing, and mature at a relatively old age. The low resilience and high vulnerability of these species means that individual marine sectors and the cumulative impact of human activities can adversely affect fish populations for whom fisheries management is regulated by deep-sea regional fisheries management organizations (dsRFMOs). A desk study to screen and scope marine sectors (in a timeframe up to 2050) revealed varying impacts on deep-sea fish, deep-sea habitats, deep-sea food webs (upon which the fish depend), and/or deep-sea fishers.