Secretariats from seven of the eight regional bodies that manage deep sea fisheries were attending the 32nd meeting of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, the Coordinator of the ABNJ Deep Seas Project took the opportunity to call an informal meeting to discuss project matters. The meeting included an update on the project; updates from Secretariats on project related activities; initiating RFMO activities in support of project objectives; and a range of topical issues. The meeting agreed to form an informal Secretariats Contact Group comprising the eight organisations to foster regular exchange of information (including, in the first instance, notices on relevant future meetings such as the various global process meetings (BBNJ and the UNGA bottom fisheries review), the outcomes of such meetings, and an indication of which organisations are attending.

A Preparatory Committee was established by UNGA res 69/292: Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. FAO is involved in this prepcom. The ABNJ Deep Seas Project has produced an analysis and guide for the implementation of international legal and policy instruments relating to biodiversity and sustainable deep-sea fisheries in the ABNJ. This is useful information to prepcom discussions and the plan is to introduce the report at a FAO side event that will showcase the regional fishery bodies with mandates to manage deep-sea fisheries in the ABNJ, their processes and practices for protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs).

Regional experts nominated by deep-sea RFMO/As gathered at the FAO headquarters in Rome from 3-5 May 2016 to participate in a workshop concerning the 2016 Worldwide Review of Bottom Fisheries in the High Seas. The objectives of the meeting were to present the framework and intent for the review, to review the draft regional chapters, identify any revisions required and agree on a work plan for the completion of the updated document. The meeting started with an introduction to the Worldwide Review, followed by presentations of the deep-sea fisheries in each region by the experts. Discussions were held on information presented as it related to the regional chapters, and on the key messages to be presented in the Worldwide Review. A plan for the completion of the Worldwide Review was also drafted.

This information banner provides a succinct description of the ABNJ Deep Seas Project activities and gives a visual description of the participating partners.

Representatives of 11 deep-sea fishing industry bodies met at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, from 2-4 March 2016, to exchange information and opinions on the forthcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) review of deep-sea fisheries. The meeting was organized by the industry associations and was acilitated by the ABNJ Deep Seas Project. The meeting commenced with presentations on a range of matters affecting deep seas fishing. Discussions followed on strategies to address the international concerns about deep-sea fishing, what information the industry would like to contribute to the UNGA review, and the best ways to communicate this information. An outline of possible submission content was discussed by the meeting participants and this was provided to industry representatives for further development.