Knowledge sharing and learning are at the core of the Common Oceans Program, supporting awareness raising and informed decision-making on key issues related to sustainable management and biodiversity conservation in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Tools
Dgroups
Dgroups is the Common Oceans Program knowledge sharing platform that is accessible to partners and stakeholders of the Program.
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Multi-lingual online courses including a variety of topics relevant to high seas fisheries management and governance.
Vulnerable marine ecosystems database
The VME database is a global inventory of fisheries measures adopted in areas beyond national jurisdiction to prevent significant adverse impacts of bottom fisheries on vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Publications
Joint workshop on bycatch in tuna fisheries. Workshop proceedings, 27–29 January 2025, Rome, Italy
2026
The report documents key discussions from a joint tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization workshop, organized by the Common Oceans Tuna Project...
Adapting to a changing ocean: management procedures and climate resilience
2026
This flyer illustrates how climate change is reshaping fisheries by influencing stock productivity, shifting species distributions, and increasing ecological...
Global blue shark management strategy evaluation. Workshop report
2026
The Global Blue Shark Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) Workshop, held at FAO headquarters in Rome from 14 to 16 October 2025, brought together 25...
Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA)Informing a Strategic Action Programme for the Stewardship of the Sargasso Sea
2026
The Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA), which was researched and written over four years by more than 25 experts presents the clearest scientific...
E-learning course
Management procedures for sustainable tuna fisheries - Introduction
14/09/2026
This course explores management procedures. It focuses on examples from tuna management, however, the content and approach is applicable to a wide range of fisheries, particularly where management actions arise from negotiations following the interpretation of scientific advice. Additionally, ...
Management procedures for sustainable tuna fisheries - Setting the vision
14/09/2026
This course explores how high level and operational management objectives are used to create a long-term vision for a fishery, in the context of management procedures. In addition, it explores how reference points and performance indicators can be selected and used to quantify operational obje...
Management procedures for sustainable tuna fisheries - Management strategy evaluation
14/09/2026
This course allows learners to assess different candidate management procedures (MPs) based on Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE). Through scenario-based practical application, this course walks learners through the MP development and decision-making process to build the skills needed to eva...