This report describes the observations of the reporting officer aboard the FV Will Watch during a trip in June–July 2009 (Trip 36). The 49-day trip primarily involved bottom trawling for orange roughy around Walters Shoal in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the southwestern Indian Ocean. This report documents relevant information on operational issues related to aimed trawling, specific issues in this fishery, the potential for further collaboration with the deep-sea fishing industry in this region, as well as an overview of the fishery that is relevant to current and future policy.

The oceans are essential to life on earth. Yet, marine life is at risk from increasing pressure caused by overfishing, pollution and climate change. The Common Oceans Program is a global alliance for action in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), supporting efforts to keep the oceans healthy through the sustainable management of marine resources and the conservation of biodiversity.

The Sargasso Sea is a unique and highly biodiverse high seas ecosystem threatened by pressure from shipping, fishing, plastics and climate change. The Common Oceans Sargasso Sea project is committed to facilitating a collaborative, cross-sectoral and sustainable stewardship mechanism to put in place a comprehensive conservation framework to protect it.

Concept Note for the GEF-7 Child Project on "Sustainable Management of Tuna Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction" (the Tuna Project). 

Concept Note for the GEF-7 Child Project on "Deep-sea Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach" (the DSF Project).