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.

The inception workshop of the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) Deep-Sea Fisheries under the Ecosystem Approach (DSF) Project was held virtually in two sessions using the video conferencing tool “Zoom” on 24 August 2020 and 26 August 2020. The workshop was attended by representatives and potential project partners, including seven Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), the GEF Secretariat and two industry organizations. The primary objective of the inception workshop was to update the project partners on the project’s scope, including objectives, components and outputs and to review the projects delivery structure, including the roles of the Implementing Agency and Executing Agency. The timeline for the development of the DSF Project was also discussed. The inception workshop participants took note and commented on the outputs and activities that are being developed by the project design team, recognizing that this is still work in progress which will require further discussions and inputs. The participants also took note of the respective roles of GEF implementing and executing agencies, but were unable to make suggestions as to suitable and acceptable executing agencies for the DSF Project. Participants took note of the DSF Project timeline, recognizing that it could be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 10 to 12 April 2019, a group of international experts met in Rome to identify and evaluate the issues relating to existing and future possible implementation of rights-based management of high seas fisheries. The group reviewed the development of international law as it relates to the high seas fisheries. Particular emphasis was given to the Convention on the Law of the Sea and how it provides for access to high seas fisheries and the obligations this access involves and the implications for those wishing to enter fully prescribed fisheries. This assessment provided the starting point to the legal basis that allows Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) to manage harvesting entitlements to fish stocks or to effort, capacity, or habitat impact in their jurisdiction in a manner that ensures that the incentives for effective and efficient management from rights-based management (RBM) that are found in seas under national jurisdiction may also be obtained from high seas fisheries.

The publication documents the results of the review of the level of implementation of the FAO Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) by the fisheries management bodies in each of the different ABNJ regions. The review was designed to help identify future activities by the ABNJ Deep Sea Project to address gaps and capacity development and make recommendations to strengthen EAF among deep-sea fisheries management bodies and/or their members. The information to complete the EAF reviews was largely obtained from web-based materials. To assist with the accuracy of these desktop assessments, following initial drafting of each EAF background report and associated EAF assessment, both documents were sent to the respective RFMO secretariats. Comments and/or suggestions provided by the secretariats were then addressed with revised versions of the background reports and review assessments generated. Based on these revised reports, the comparative analyses were finalized and a full report was drafted. Being a desk-top assessment of the level of implementation of the EAF approach by each of the RFMO management bodies, the study had a number of caveats including only being able to measure systems and processes, not outcomes. A more complete assessment of EAF adoption and especially the outcomes would require direct involvement of the various stakeholders, including all relevant management, compliance and scientific bodies, contracting parties (CP), non-contracting parties (NCP), vessel owners, crews, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.