Common Oceans Program

FAO

Common Oceans Program

Partnership for sustainability and biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) The oceans are essential to life on earth. Yet, marine life is at risk from increasing pressure caused by overfishing, pollution and climate change. The Common Oceans Program is a global alliance for action in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), supporting efforts to keep the oceans healthy through the sustainable management of marine resources and the conservation of biodiversity.

Last updated 21/02/2023

Language English

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Common Oceans Program side event: a global partnership supporting UNFSA 2023

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The Common Oceans Program is a global alliance of stakeholders and partners – including regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), intergovernmental organizations, civil society and the private sector – for transformational change, promoting sustainable use of marine resources and strengthened biodiversity conservation in the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), in face of a changing environment. Sustainable management of straddling and highly migratory species is at the core of the Program, with two projects focused on improving the management of tuna and deepsea fish stocks in the ABNJ. In particular, the projects aim to strengthen cooperation among RFMOs, implement the precautionary and ecosystem approach to fisheries, and address data gaps and compliance challenges by applying innovative tools and approaches. Furthermore, the Program promotes cooperation and coherence in the governance of ABNJ through cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation. This side event focuses on the achievements so far and the challenges and opportunities for the second phase of the Common Oceans Program in an evolving environment, taking into account the progress in the international legislative framework. The event will provide the opportunity for RFMO, government, civil society and industry partners to share their experiences on cooperation for sustainable fisheries management in line with UNFSA recommendations.
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Not a drop in the ocean
Key successes Common Oceans ABNJ Program 2014-2019
2021

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Oceans are essential to life on earth. They help regulate our climate and produce oxygen for us to breathe. They also provide food, jobs, energy and transport for millions of people around the world. Yet, our oceans are in peril. Overfishing, pollution and climate change are some of the threats facing the marine environment, as well as the supply of goods and services oceans provide to humankind. The need to protect the oceans is gaining momentum on the international agenda and global action is being taken, targeting even the ocean’s remotest parts, known as the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) – which cover over 60 percent of the ocean’s surface and 40 percent of the planet’s surface. Far from land, outside national boundaries, the complex management of the rich marine resources and biodiversity of the ABNJ requires international cooperation. This has improved since the UN Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982. Nevertheless, challenges remain to achieve the responsible and sustainable use of these important ecosystems. To contribute to meet these goals, the Common Oceans ABNJ Program brought together global stakeholders and partners to promote the sustainable use of fisheries and the protection of marine biodiversity in the ABNJ. The Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), involved the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank Group (WBG), as well as Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and other intergovernmental organizations, national governments, the private sector, civil society and academia. This report presents the results obtained by the Common Oceans ABNJ Program between 2014-2019. It highlights the value, importance and benefits of sustainably managing fisheries and biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ, and how the collateral impact of fishing is less harmful to the marine environment now than when the program started out in 2014.
Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Common Oceans Program - Tuna fisheries
Partnership for sustainability and biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction
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Strong demand for tuna brings economic benefits, food and jobs to millions of people, but also puts a lot of pressure on tuna stocks. The Common Oceans Tuna project aims to ensure that tunas are fished more sustainably by mobilizing a global partnership in support of responsible tuna fisheries management and the conservation of biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).