Report of the second workshop for tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) on the Ecosystems Approach too Fisheries Management (EAFM) organized in September 2019.

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 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.

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.

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).