Improving policy for fisheries

The ABNJ Deep Seas Project reviewed existing international policy and legal instruments to identify those of most relevance to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ. The review focused on identifying instruments that require implementation through national legislation in order to be effective for deep sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ.

A step-wise guide of the implementation of international policy and legal instruments was developed. The guide provides practical steps required to integrate instruments related to deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity in ABNJ into national legislation of selected pilot countries.

The project also explored how market-based incentives affect deep-sea fisheries in ABNJ. This included a study assessing how catch documentation schemes (CDS) could be applied to deep-sea fisheries in order to mitigate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

© sebastiandre / Adobe Stock

The challenge

Fishing trawlers © Whitcomberd / Adobe Stock

Increasing pressures are threatening biodiversity in ABNJ

Traditionally, the remoteness of ABNJ has provided a degree of protection from human activities. However, with technological advances, these areas are becoming easier to access. Existing and emerging activities in ABNJ include offshore oil and gas exploitation, deep-sea mining, cable-laying, shipping and deep-sea fishing.

As a result, the impact of human activities on biodiversity in ABNJ is growing – and the scale and intensity of such activities in the deep-sea are expected to increase over the coming decades. In addition, external pressures such as climate change are also increasing. To lessen the impacts from these pressures on deep-sea biodiversity, the global community must work together to balance different human activities. This requires improving the design and implementation of existing policy and legal instruments for deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ at the global and regional levels.

Policies and legal instruments are needed at global and regional levels

Progress has been made in implementing international instruments and relevant guidelines for deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ at the global and regional levels. However, improvements in their application are still required to address the vulnerability of deep-sea habitats, fish stocks and associated bycatch species. Barriers to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in the deep-sea include challenges related to the implementation of international instruments.

A number of countries have mainstreamed deep-sea fisheries management and biodiversity conservation instruments into their policies or legal frameworks. However, many other countries are still not able to do so, due to a lack of awareness of the available instruments, inadequate institutional capacity, or both. Strong legislation and policy frameworks require the incorporation of international obligations and best practices into national and regional instruments, and well-targeted institutional support to those countries requiring it.

Fishing boat heads out to sea
Fishing boat heads out to sea © Stanislav Komogorov

The solution

Turtle © Richard Carey / Adobe Stock

Where we worked

The ABNJ Deep Seas Project worked closely with the national and regional organisations in two regions:

  • The Southern Indian Ocean
  • The South East Atlantic

How we worked

Together with our regional partners, we provided support in implementing existing policy and legal instruments at the regional and national levels. We achieved this by strengthening the capacity to incorporate legal obligations and good practices – related to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation – into national legislation. A step-wise guide was developed detailing practical steps to assist countries in integrating their international obligations into national laws and policies.

The step-wise guide allows users to:

  • Identify the objectives and principles to be included in national laws and policies;
  • Establish fisheries management measures, including those related to vessel licencing, data collection and monitoring, control and surveillance regimes; and,
  • Implement measures to protect marine biodiversity.

The Secretariat and members of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (SEAFO) participated in a DEEP-FLIP (Fisheries Law in Practice) pilot training programme on the use and application of the step-wise guide.

The ABNJ Deep Seas Project also reviewed the relevance and value of CDS in the context of deep-sea fisheries. The report explored the organisational and institutional modalities under which CDS could be applied in order to operate effectively and to make substantive contributions to sustainable fisheries management, as well as how to mitigate IUU fishing.

To improve understanding of existing global processes, policy and legal frameworks for ABNJ management, and the related challenges, the ABNJ Deep Seas Project supported the creation of global partnerships between deep-sea Regional Fisheries Management Organisations/Arrangements (RFMO/A) Secretariats.

Key outputs & findings

© Sondem / Adobe Stock

International legal and policy instruments related to deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ

Deep-sea fisheries and the protection of marine biological diversity in ABNJ are covered by a range of international legal and policy instruments. To start building a basis upon which to provide advice to countries on implementation at national level, we undertook a detailed analysis of these international policy and legal instruments. The review highlights specific requirements or aspects of the international instruments that should be reflected in national legislation.

These requirements were included in a step-wise guide for the implementation of international policy and legal instruments for deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ at the national level. The guide provides further details on specific types of measures that countries may wish to take to implement the instruments described in the review. The step-wise guide is aimed at policymakers, legislators and operational personnel.

Catch documentation schemes for deep-seas fisheries in ABNJ

We also explored how relevant a CDS would look in the context of deep sea fisheries. CDS is an important tool to combat IUU fishing. So far, CDS have had limited application in deep-sea fisheries.

CDS could help mitigate IUU fishing through improved compliance with deep sea-fisheries conservation and management measures. The implementation of an effective CDS would benefit from a multi-regional approach covering specific fish species across their distribution range. This is of particular interest to the contracting parties of the RFMOs which manage deep-sea fisheries.

Black browed albatross
Black browed albatross © AGAMI / Adobe Stock

Disclaimer

The designations employed and the presentation of information on this web site do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC or FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by UNEP-WCMC or FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in material made available on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP-WCMC or FAO.

Information on this site is provided on an “as is“ and “as available“ basis. UNEP-WCMC and FAO make every effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information on this web site. UNEP-WCMC and FAO reserve the right to alter, limit or discontinue any part of this service at its discretion.

Under no circumstances shall UNEP-WCMC or FAO be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense suffered that is claimed to result from the use of such content, or the use of the information posted herein, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption or delay.

No claim or representation is made or warranty given as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information shared on this site. UNEP-WCMC and FAO do not accept any liability to any person or entity for any loss, damage, liability or expense suffered which is claimed to result from use of the information posted, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption or delay. Links to websites that are not administered or owned by UNEP-WCMC or FAO do not imply any official endorsement by or responsibility of UNEP-WCMC or FAO for the information, opinions, data or products presented on those websites.