Deep-sea fisheries are an important source of employment and nutrition. Their careful management, however, is vital because they are generally slow to reproduce which makes them particularly sensitive to overfishing. Additionally, as the gear frequently makes contact with the seafloor during fishing operations, their potential impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems such as deepwater corals and sponges needs to be considered.
Deep-sea fisheries typically take place between depths of 200 and 1500 meters, targeting bottom-dwelling species on continental shelves, seamounts and ocean ridges using bottom and deep mid-water trawls, and bottom-set gillnets, longlines and pots.
The FAO International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, adopted in 2008, set out non-binding guidelines on managing deep-sea fisheries sustainably and protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems from significant adverse impacts in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The Deep-sea fisheries project aims to promote the implementation of these guidelines and achieve more sustainable deep-sea fisheries. The project partners with the seven regional fisheries management organizations that have a mandate to manage deep-sea fisheries, the private sector, national and international organizations.
Key activities
Strengthen and implement regulatory frameworks
Promote adoption and compliance with international fisheries obligations to improve management of deep-sea fish stocks and reduce impacts on bycatch species in over 3 billion hectares of marine habitats – about 3 times the size of Europe.
Improve deep-sea fisheries management
Support science-based fisheries management by improved catch monitoring and reporting to ensure that an additional 25 % of deep-sea stocks – around 50 000 tonnes of catch – come from sustainably managed stocks by 2027.
Reduce environmental impact
Improve measures to protect Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) from the impact of bottom fishing on 42 million hectares – 35 % of the total VME areas – currently closed to bottom fisheries.
Promote effective deep-water shark conservation measures.
Partners
Featured
Facts and figures
Landed deep-sea catches amounted to 224 000 tonnes in 2020
25% of stocks are estimated to be fished sustainably, 25% are overfished, and 50% have insufficient information available to assess their stock status
Bottom-fishing occurs in 2.5 % of the ABNJ
30 countries in 8 regional management bodies are involved in the conservation and management of deep-sea fisheries in the ABNJ