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.

The marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) comprises 40 percent of the earth’s surface, it covers 64 percent of the surface of the ocean and 95 percent of its volume. The Common Oceans ABNJ Program (2014-2019) was implemented by FAO as a concerted effort to bring various stakeholders to work together to manage and conserve the world’s common oceans.   The ABNJ Deep-Sea project, one component of the Common Oceans ABNJ Program, was of great assistance to newly-formed regional fisheries management organization and arrangements (RFMO/As), as well as some long-standing regional fisheries. The project showed positive results in safeguarding vulnerable marine ecosystems, strengthening monitoring, control and surveillance to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, mitigating bycatch mortality trends, and building awareness of cross-sectoral aspects in effective governance of ABNJ. Through its cooperation with RFMOs, the project has, to some extent, contributed to minimize the negative impacts of bycatch. Results achieved should be capitalized on and upscaled in a second phase.

This document provides an overview of the international framework for monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), enforcement and compliance in deep-sea fisheries in the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). It also provides an overview of the regional fisheries management organisations or arrangements (RFMO/As) with a conservation and management mandate for deep-sea species and summarizes the MCS measures implemented by them. It highlights the need for the development of MCS strategy, best-practice data management, capacity building, and compliance evaluation to effectively implement MCS. The final part of 3 this document describes and discusses the IUU vessel listing measures and procedures of the deep-sea RFMO/As, other relevant IUU initiatives and recommendations to improve the IUU listing measures and procedures of the deep-sea RFMO/As.  

The fifth meeting of the ABNJ Deep Seas Project Steering Committee (PSC) was held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy from 27–28 January 2020. The meeting was attended by representatives of eight project partners, including six regional bodies. The primary objectives of the fifth PSC were to consider the preliminary results of the Deep Sea Project (DSP) terminal evaluation and to provide feedback on the framework being developed for a second phase of the project under the coming GEF replenishment cycle. The PSC took note and commented on the Concept Note that has been prepared for the second phase of the DSP. The PSC also noted the timeline for the preparation and submission of documents for the GEF Council and that the five child projects and the Program Framework Document (PFD) need to be submitted together as a package. 

The Worldwide review of bottom fisheries in the high seas in 2016 is an update to the first Worldwide review of bottom fisheries in the high seas, published in 2009 based on information from 2003 to 2006. It provides states and other interested parties with a summary of the current status of high seas bottom fisheries worldwide. The present, updated review begins with a description of the demersal finfish and shellfish resources, before offering a global perspective on fisheries and management; it then provides specific, regional information over eleven chapters covering the high seas of the world’s oceans, by region. Drawing on data up to and including 2016, it provides a survey of the current state of bottom fisheries since the original Worldwide review, considering these fisheries in the context of their historical evolution.