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.

Cross-sectoral management and governance is a major challenge to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The Common Oceans Cross-sectoral project is committed to building and strengthening regional and national capacity for sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination, knowledge management and public awareness of ABNJ.

The validation workshop of the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) Deep-Sea Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach Project, was held virtually in two sessions on 7 and 8 September 2021. The workshop was attended by representatives and potential project partners, including seven Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), three industry organizations, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat. The primary objective of the validation workshop was to update the participants on the development of the project to date, to outline the next steps in the project development process, and to validate the project’s outcomes, outputs and activities.

Tuna and tuna like species account for 20 percent of the entire value of the world’s marine capture fisheries. The total amount generated by these fish is estimated at over USD 10 billion annually, which supports the livelihoods of thousands of communities worldwide. Tunas travel vast distances, passing through both exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of coastal developing states and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the so called “high seas”, also known as areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The strong demand for tuna, combined with excessive fishing, is one of the reasons that have caused stocks to decline and have left fisheries unable to reach optimal catches. This creates a challenge for the 85 countries that fish for tuna and jointly manage these fisheries through tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (t RFMOs). The main objective of this project one of four projects making up the Global Environment Facility financed Program on Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in ABNJ was to achieve sustainable and efficient tuna fisheries production and biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ by targeting three specific issues: ( i ) declines in tuna fisheries resources due to insufficient use of robust conservation and management measures; (ii) illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermining the effectiveness of measures; and (iii) negative impacts from tuna fishing on ecosystems and biological diversity.

This publication examines the current status of using still and video camera systems, supported by image analysis through artificial intelligence and computer learning systems, to support the work of on-board scientific observers on commercial fishing vessels. This allows observers to increase their ability to improve data collection and reduce risks to personal safety. It also frees up the observers time allowing them to focus on tasks that can not be replaced by technology. The end result is more and better data, collected to know quality standards, that is independent of observer experience.