WORKSHOP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FAO DEEP-SEA GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DEEP-SEA FISHERIES IN THE HIGH SEAS -IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE GUIDELINES IN AREAS WHERE NO COMPETENT RFMO/A IS IN PLA

摘要

The objective of this paper is to present discussion points (at a mostly technical level) relating to the implementation of the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas (the FAO Deep-sea Guidelines), which were adopted by member countries of the FAO in 2008. These guidelines were developed following the UNGA Resolution 61/105 relating to concern for the impacts of deep-sea fisheries on cold-water corals, sponges, seamounts and vulnerable benthic ecosystems and species in general. Resolution 61/105 called on both states and RFMOs to regulate high seas bottom fisheries through various mechanisms including, conducting impact assessments to determine whether significant adverse impacts to VMEs would occur. Alsoareas of the high seas where VMEs are known or likely to occur should be closed to fishing unless such fisheries could be managed to prevent significant adverse impacts. The intent was that high seas fisheries should be managed to ensure the long-term sustainability of targeted deep-sea fish stocks and requires that impact assessments of bottom fisheries on the high seas should be conducted to determine if "significant adverse impacts" to these ecosystems were likely to occur.