This Project “Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation of Deep-sea Living Marine Resources and Ecosystems in the ABNJ” is one of four projects making up the GEF-financed Program “ABNJ Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in ABNJ”. It offers a unique opportunity for GEF, FAO, UNEP and its World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as well as the Project’s main partners – such as all deep-sea RFMO/As, Regional Sea Programmes, the CBD, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and others - to actively support the development, management and sustainability of DSF and associated biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ. FAO, UNEP and some of the partners already have a number of ongoing programs and activities dealing with issues related to DSF and biodiversity. Without the Project, however, the above-mentioned problems would continue to be addressed at a much slower pace and in a more piecemeal manner, with far more limited prospects of useful uptake and impact. There would be considerable additional risks to biodiversity as a result of the inevitably slower and fragmented approach. GEF is uniquely placed to orchestrate such a concerted and integrated project given its capacity for mobilizing substantial financial resources and technical knowledge. Moreover, the Project’s objectives and expected results are in complete alignment with GEF International Waters and Biodiversity focal areas.

This Project, “Sustainable Management of Tuna Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, is a critical component of the overall GEF supported ABNJ Program “ABNJ Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”. It offers a unique opportunity for GEF and FAO and their associated partners to fast track the development, management and sustainability of ABNJ fisheries and biodiversity conservation and to make vital and urgently needed progress in strengthening responsible fisheries management and practices in these fisheries. Without the Project, the current inconsistencies in management, high levels of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and threats to biodiversity from current fishing practices would likely continue with increasingly negative impacts on the tuna stocks and marine biodiversity and with ensuing damage to the wellbeing of the millions of people directly and indirectly dependent on these resources for their livelihoods.

As part of the “Program on Global Sustainable Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, this project will play a key role in the improvement of cross-sectoral dialogue, engagement of high-level decision-makers, public outreach, and knowledge management, and will also build on the efforts of the other three ABNJ projects to improve global capacity to effectively manage ABNJ.

Introducing our first newsletter! FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Department is pleased to share the first newsletter of the Deep-Sea High Seas (DSHS) Programme. Twice a year, we will spotlight programme activities that are made possible through the generous funding from the governments of France, Japan and Norway.