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DSCC members will be attending or monitoring the following meetings.
Contact us
for more information.
2007
5-9 March: FAO COFI (Rome)
9-21 March: UNICPOLOS PrepCom (NY)
23-27 April: UN Fish Stocks Agreement, Meeting of the Parties (NY)
25-30 June: UNICPOLOS (NY)
30 April-4 May: South Pacific RFMO Negotiations (Chile)
Complete calendar
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| TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR NAFO TO PROTECT DEEP-SEA SPECIES |
| 5 May 2008 Conservation organizations from across Canada and Europe have
called on the European Union, Canada, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Japan, the United
States and the other member nations of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
(NAFO) to urgently agree to protect deep-sea species in the Northwest Atlantic.
A special session of NAFO meets this week in Montreal to decide on regulations
to protect cold-water corals and other vulnerable deep-sea species from deep-sea
bottom fisheries on the high seas. More |
| STATES ACKNOWLEDGE DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT OF DEEP-SEA FISHING |
| 2 May 2008 The second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group of the
United Nations General Assembly to study issues relating to the conservation
and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction
(the Working Group) concluded today (2nd May) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters
in New York. More |
| Fifth Meeting to Establish a South Pacific RFMO: What about implementation? |
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24 March 2008 The Fifth meeting to discuss the establishment of a South Pacific Regional
Fisheries Management Organisation (SP RFMO) wrapped up week long negotiations
on March 14, 2008 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. While
for the first time, participants addressed a number of important aspects that
needed airing, it is clear that much more work needs to be done More |
| UN FAO: MEETING ENDS WITHOUT AGREEMENT ON GUIDELINES FOR HIGH SEAS DEEP-SEA FISHERIES |
| 10 February 2008 The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted a "Technical Consultation" at its headquarters in Rome this week to negotiate a set of International Guidelines for the management of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas. The Consultation failed to complete a set of guidelines but instead agreed to hold a follow-up meeting scheduled for August 2008. More |
| Fisheries organizations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans fail their end of year report |
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10 December 2007 As the United Nations General Assembly holds its annual Fisheries and Oceans Debate today, a new End of Year Report reveals that the majority of fisheries treaty organisations are failing to take urgent actions called for by the General Assembly in 2006 to protect deep-sea species and ecosystems. More |
| Time is running out for NEAFC to comply with UN General Assembly |
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28 November 2007 The meeting of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) ended on 16 November without an agreement to implement the UN General Assembly (UN GA) Resolution on bottom fishing. This is the second meeting of the Commission this year at which NEAFC’s contracting parties have failed to do so. More |
| CCAMLR XXVI maintains prohibition on bottom fishing |
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16 November 2007 This year's CCAMLR meeting (CCAMLR-XXVI), held in Hobart, Australia, from 22 October to 2 November adopted a Conservation Measure on bottom fishing, which maintains the existing stop on new bottom fishing activities and prioritises the necessary research and data collection to allow full
development of appropriate management measures for vulnerable marine ecosystems. More |
| "Will we allow the greed of humankind to destroy the very thing which sustains life on our planet?" |
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4 October 2007 The Oceans in Crisis Briefing for the G77 Forum at the United Nations (UN) on October 3rd was attended by many States including Brazil, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Iran, Malaysia, Philippines, Trinidad and the Seychelles. More |
| Deep sea conservation deep sixed in the Northwest Atlantic |
| 28 September 2007 High seas fishing nations failed to agree to comprehensive protection of cold-water corals and other vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems on the high seas of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean at the annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), which concluded in Lisbon today. More |
| G77 to Discuss Deep Ocean Crisis |
| 26 September 2007 On October 3, 2007 Pakistan, current Chair of the G77 group of Developing countries will facilitate a special briefing to the G77 Forum at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. With the start of the annual negotiations at the UN on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, the focus of the briefing will be on the state of the world's oceans and implications for developing countries. More |
| Time to Save the Northwest Atlantic |
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24 September 2007 As major fishing nations gather to determine the future of the Northwest Atlantic, members of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition called upon states to implement the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) mandate for deep ocean protection. More |
| Deep Sea Protection - Stage Set For The North To Follow Suit |
| 14 September 2007 The Southern Pacific ocean was today one step closer to the protection of its deep-sea ecosystems as the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation meeting in New Caledonia ended. More |
| Nations Meet to Discuss Unprotected High Seas of South Pacific |
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10 September 2007 Representatives from countries throughout the South Pacific plus the European Union (EU), Japan, Russia, China, the US and others start a meeting today in Noumea, New Caledonia, to discuss a new regime for the management of one of the largest unregulated areas of ocean in the world. More |
| UNICP – Crucial for States to Act Now |
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2 July 2007 This year's UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICP) examined the issue of Marine Genetic Resources, with members of the DSCC in attendance. More |
| World Press Coverage of Bottom Trawling Agreement |
| 9 May 2007 Check out the list of international press stories filed about the landmark bottom trawling pact in the South Pacific. More |
| Landmark Agreement First of Its Kind to Stop Destruction from High Seas Bottom Trawling |
| 4 May 2007 New international agreement will stop destruction of deep water corals, seamounts and other sensitive habitats in international waters. Up to 25% of the high seas are to be protected from bottom trawling following a landmark decision by nations fishing in the South Pacific. More |
| Nations Meet to Discuss Unprotected High Seas of South Pacific Following UN GA Agreement to Protect Vulnerable
Marine Ecosystems |
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30 April 2007 Representatives from countries throughout the South Pacific plus the European Union (EU), Japan, Russia, China, the US and others will meet next week in Renaca, Chile to discuss a new regime for the management of one of the largest unregulated areas of ocean in the world. More |
| Western Micronesian Chief Executives Announce Moratorium Support |
| 22 March 2007 President Remengesau reported that the Pacific Islands Forum, and
other Chief Executives at previous meetings, agreed, within the
limitations of their political status, to support a temporary ban on the destructive practice of deep sea bottom trawling. More |
| Report on the outcome of the meeting of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries and deep-sea fisheries on the high seas |
| 15 March 2007 The meeting (27th Session) of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries took place 5-9 March 2007 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. COFI meets every two years, bringing together senior government officials from some 100 countries with an interest in fisheries. The agenda of the meeting this year included the issue of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas, in response to the UN General Assembly (UN GA) Resolution 61/105 on bottom fishing on the high seas adopted in December 2006. More |
| Scientists call for Elimination of Government Fuel Subsidies for
Unsustainable High Seas Fisheries |
| 17 February 2007 An international team of
leading fisheries economists, biologists, and ecologists has called for the abolition of government
fuel subsidies that keep deep-sea fishing vessels moving to deeper waters. More |
| UN General Assembly calls for action on bottom trawling; conservation organisations pledge: we will be watching! |
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8 December 2006 The UN General Assembly (UNGA) concluded its annual debate on Oceans and Sustainable Fisheries today. At the close of the debate, the UNGA formally adopted two Resolutions, one of which included controversial measures for high seas bottom trawling. More |
| Effective action on bottom trawling scuttled in the final hours of negotiations |
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23 November 2006 UN fisheries negotiations ran into early this morning as delegates worked to find a compromise. They were looking at text which would have offered immediate protection for vulnerable areas in the absence of agreement on a global moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. Even this compromise was derailed by Iceland. More |
| Out of their minds? |
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23 November 2006 The ink had hardly dried on the strongest scientific evidence yet in support of a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling, not to mention another report that overfishing is set to seal the fate of fish dinners on Fridays - by 2048 there'll be no fish and little other life left to mention in our oceans. More |
| New research reveals clear scientific reasons for the bottom trawling to stop |
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15 November 2006 Responding to new scientific findings about the correlation between seamounts, stony corals and high seas fishing grounds, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) today challenged the few remaining countries opposing a moratorium to step out of the way. More |
| European Community, South Korea and Russia sink international effort to protect South Pacific from high seas bottom trawling |
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10 November 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition has condemned northern fishing nations, the European Community, South Korea, and Russia for blocking measures which would have protected deep-sea life in the South Pacific. More |
| Canada under fire for opposing a high seas bottom trawling moratorium |
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31 October 2006 In a global day of action highlighting Canada’s opposition to the high seas bottom trawling moratorium, protests took place on ‘Moratorium Monday’ across Canada and at Canadian embassies in Australia, New Zealand and Chile. More |
| International Pressure on PM to pull NZ Bottom trawl fleet from High Seas |
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30 October 2006 An international coalition of more than 60 environmental groups has called on New Zealand to pull its bottom trawl fishing fleet out of the international waters of the South Pacific
to protect deep-sea life. More |
| Pacific Block Declares for a Moratorium |
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26 October 2006 In an important move for the future of the deep seas, the Pacific Islands Forum has declared its support of a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. More |
| Actress Sigourney Weaver Stands With Conservation Organizations And Ambassadors Calling For A Moratorium On High Seas Bottom-Trawling
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3 October 2006 Actress Sigourney Weaver today joined a coalition representing more than 60 conservation organizations from around the world at UN headquarters in New York to call for new action to confront lawless bottom trawling in deep sea fisheries. More |
| US Joins Pro-Moratorium Nations |
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3 October 2006 On the eve of negotiations commencing at the United Nations in New York, which will determine the future of the high seas, President Bush of the United States has called for a moratorium on high seas unregulated bottom trawling and other environmentally destructive fishing practices. More |
| The EU Commission statement on high seas bottom trawling is greenwash |
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29 September 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) today accused the European Commission of greenwashing a set of proposals designed to undermine the growing support for a high seas moratorium on bottom trawl fishing, and noted that it did not seem to reflect the will of all EU Member States. More |
| Australian support for protection of deep sea life from high seas bottom trawling |
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22 September 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) has welcomed today's announcement by the Australian Government that it will support interim measures at this year's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to stop unregulated destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling on the high seas. More |
| Seamounts: rest stops and filling stations for tuna and swordfish |
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11 September 2006 Seamounts (underwater mountains) serve as oceanic filling stations or rest stops for commercially important fish species such as tuna and swordfish, scientists have concluded. More |
| Honk for the high seas! |
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28 August 2006 As Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Loyola Hearn considers Canada’s position on a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling, Canadian scientists and celebrities join the campaign for a moratorium on Canada’s streets and wharfs, with signs like "Honk for the High Seas” and "High Seas Dragging is a Drag". More |
| Greenpeace activists lock down high-seas bottom trawler in Port Nelson |
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31 July 2006 In the early hours of the morning today Greenpeace activists boarded a deep sea bottom trawler - the Belize flagged Chang Xing - in Port Nelson. The activists have locked themselves to the ship preventing it from leaving port. More |
| Pacific Leaders Back Bottom Trawling Ban |
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31 July 2006 The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have announced that they are
officially signing on to Palau's proposal for a moratorium on high seas
bottom trawling which will be presented to the United Nations General
Assembly later this year. More |
| DSCC Response to the UN Report on High Seas Protection: Measures Sparse, Ineffective, Woefully Inadequate |
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14 July 2006 The long awaited UN Report of measures to protect the vulnerable deep oceans of the high seas has confirmed that these areas receive about as much
protection as the dodo did in seventeenth century Mauritius. More |
| The southern Indian Ocean needs real protection, not voluntary half measures |
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5 July 2006 The proposal by New Zealand high seas fishing company Sealord, together with three other fishing companies, to voluntarily refrain from deep-sea fishing in limited areas of the international waters of the Indian Ocean, falls woefully short of the action needed to protect deep-sea corals, seamounts and other unique marine ecosystems in the region. More |
| Australian government fails to protect deep sea ecosystems |
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20 June 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition expressed disappointment that the Australian government failed to support a Senate motion calling for short-term measures to protect the deep seas from the destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling. More |
| Time to deal definitively with the problem of high seas bottom trawling |
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19 June 2006 At the 7th UN Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea, many countries reinforced the need to deal effectively with the threat to marine ecosystems from bottom trawl fishing on the high seas. More |
| More evidence, support and a new proposal |
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15 June 2006 At the United Nations meeting taking place this week in New York to discuss ecosystem approaches and oceans, Palau has presented a new proposal for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. In the approach to the meeting, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil confirmed their support for a UN moratorium, as science continues to unravel the mysteries and vulnerabilty of deep-sea species and habitats. More |
| Oceans World Cup - netting the Destroyers |
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8 June 2006 On World Oceans Day, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) members highlighted the need for a time-out on high seas bottom trawling at a variety of events in countries around the world, including New Zealand, Poland and Chile. More |
| Time to take Canada to task |
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31 May 2006 At a DSCC event in Toronto hosted by the David Suzuki Foundation, key speakers Dr. David Suzuki and Dr. Ransom Meyers from Dalhousie University, referred to Canada's position against a United Nations moratorium on high seas bottom trawling as regressive. More |
| Agenda setting in Portugal |
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31 May 2006 Will the Government of Portugal, one of the European countries that holds the key to resolving the high seas trawling controversy at the United Nations, make a move to secure a strong majority in favour of a high seas bottom trawl moratorium within the European Union? More |
| Canada's Fisheries Minister agrees bottom trawling damages habitat and fish stocks |
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31 May 2006 Ottawa - In a meeting with Dr. Sylvia Earle, Canadian Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn agreed with the renowned ocean explorer's views on deep sea bottom trawling. "It does damage to the stocks and it does damage to the habitat," Hearn said. More |
| DSCC calls for transparent Portuguese deep sea policy |
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30 May 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) today welcomed Portugal's three largest environmental organisations to its membership, at a Workshop organised under the auspices of the Luso-American Foundation for Development. More |
| RFMOs not a panacea |
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19 May 2006 A new publication by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and TRAFFIC confirms the position of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition that regional fisheries management organisations are not a panacea to stop the devastation of vulnerable deep-sea marine ecosystems by bottom trawlers operating on the high seas. More |
| Deep-water sharks, polar bears and hippopotamus face extinction |
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4 May 2006 Deep-water sharks join the ranks of species facing extinction, together with polar bears and the hippopotamus, listed on the World Conservation Union's 2006 Red List of Threatened Species. More |
| Can the clocks be stopped? |
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27 April 2006 The Swedish environment minister, Lena Sommestad, has announced that Sweden will push for a European Union position in support of a United Nations moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. After two years of governments promising to take "urgent action" to protect deep sea life, will other countries finally follow suit? More |
| CBD passes the buck for action on high seas bottom trawling |
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4 April 2006 Although extinctions are proceeding at an unprecedented rate, the Convention on Biological Diversity failed to do more than reiterate the call for immediate action to protect vulnerable deep-sea corals and underwater mountains from high seas bottom trawling, shifting the responsibility to the United Nations. More |
| Process not substance dominates preparatory meeting for FSA review |
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28 March 2006 Last week, from March 20-24, governments met in New York for the preparatory meeting for the Fish Stocks Agreement (FSA) Review Conference to be held from May 22-26. Although Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines indicated their intention to join the FSA, and some improvements were made to the criteria to assess the FSA, process and procedure largely dominated the discussions. More |
| Protect the high seas from an act of insanity |
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16 March 2006 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition has congratulated Achim Steiner on his imminent appointment as Executive Director of UNEP. In his current post as Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Mr. Steiner has called deep sea bottom trawling an act of insanity and said "We must protect the high seas before it’s too late". More |
| Pirate trawler tracking not enough |
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6 March 2006 As the High Seas Task Force proposed a global database to track down illegal fishing vessels as one of nine initiatives to close the net on modern day pirate fishers, Greenpeace revealed that European governments are turning a blind eye to unregulated fishing vessels flying European flags. If governments are serious about tackling IUU fishing, they must address high seas bottom trawling now. More |
| Bottom trawling continues unrestricted as international fisheries meeting ends |
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17 February 2006 The international fisheries meeting in Wellington today ended disappointingly with states failing to take any action to protect life in the deep sea from the destruction caused by high seas bottom trawling. More |
| New European Union Position Justifies High Seas Bottom Trawling Moratorium |
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16 February 2006 In what appears to be a significant improvement over its past position, the European Union (EU) has called this week for strong, precautionary measures to protect biodiversity in the high seas. More |
| Protection for High Seas Biodiversity - Time to Get Serious |
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13 February 2006 Two key meetings are taking place this week which will set the course for the protection of biodiversity on the high seas. More |
| Overwhelming Support for High Seas Bottom Trawling Moratorium |
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12 January 2006 A national poll released today jointly by Greenpeace and the Ecology Action Centre shows 78.3% of Canadians believe that Canada should reverse its current position on high seas bottom trawling and support a moratorium on the fishing practice in international waters - even if it may cost jobs. More |
| Study Shows Shocking Decline In Deep-Sea Bottom Trawled Species |
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6 January 2006 A new study published in Nature has revealed serious declines in deep water species targeted for commercial fishing in the Northwest Atlantic. More |
| UN General Assembly fails to heed calls to protect the world's ocean commons |
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29 November 2005 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today reaffirmed its call for nations to take 'urgent action' to protect deep-sea corals, seamounts and hydrothermal vent ecosytems from destruction by bottom trawl fishing but stopped well short of agreeing to declare a halt to the practice in international waters. More |
| France to support high seas moratorium in unregulated areas |
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28 November 2005 On the eve of the UN General Assembly debate on Oceans, the French government announced that "In order to limit the impact on habitats in the high sea, France will support a moratorium on all fishing techniques for deep-sea species, where there is no competent authority in this regard (70% of the oceans), pending the creation of a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO)". More |
| NEAFC fails to protect vulnerable deepwater fish and corals from bottom trawling |
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25 November 2005 The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) has failed to further reduce fishing effort on vulnerable deep-sea fish stocks and to protect cold-water coral reefs from deep sea bottom trawling, against the recent advice of scientists. More |
| UNGA negotiations: NGOs prevail in retaining right to participate in the future of the high seas |
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14 November 2005 Despite attempts by several powerful governments to have NGOs banned from disucssions on the future of the high seas, NGOs will be allowed to participate in crucial meetings next year. More |
| Scientists call on Australia to support the moratorium |
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4 November 2005 58 Australian marine scientists have sent a letter to the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard urging him to "take advantage of an historic opportunity to secure significant protection for the world’s deep-ocean ecosystems on the high seas" by promoting the negotiation of a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling at this year’s United Nations General Assembly. More |
| Will Canada hold good on its promise to protect the oceans? |
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25 October 2005 In spite of the fact that Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has called on countries to "stop the rape of our oceans" and Fisheries Minister Geoff Reagan agrees that no habitat means no fish, Canada stands poised to vote against a moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters at the United Nations. More |
| Scientists Speak Out: Action Urgently Needed in the Deep Seas |
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20 October 2005 There is growing concern amongst scientists about the need to take urgent action to protect deep sea biodiversity - fish stocks as well as habitat. The International Council on the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has prepared a report calling for "a complete overhaul of deep-sea fisheries." More |
| DSCC engages Iceland in debate on temporary halt to high seas bottom trawling |
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11 October 2005 A science tour event organized by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition together with Iceland Nature Conservation Association, and attended by key people from Iceland's government, has initiated a debate in Iceland over the country's opposition to an interim suspension on high seas bottom trawling. More |
| Confusion surrounding Spanish position |
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5 October 2005 On 12 August, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries published a press release "Spain, First Major Fishing Power to Support regulation on Bottom Trawling", (in Spanish, "España primera potencia pesquera que respalda la regulación del arrastre de fondo"). More |
| DSCC calls on France to support a moratorium |
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30 September 2005 In Paris this week, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) called on France to support a UN General Assembly resolution as France’s friends of the ocean gathered at the Oceanographic Institute for the 'Deep Trouble' conference ('Au fond, il y a un problème') to discuss high seas bottom trawling. More |
| NAFO fiddles while Rome burns |
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27 September 2005 Fisheries managers gathered in Estonia for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation's annual meeting last week, once again failed to take the 'urgent action' against destructive fishing practices called for by the United Nations, apparently deciding instead to develop guidelines on gathering data and review existing research. More |
| NAFO's failure points to urgent need for moratorium on high seas bottom trawling |
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19 September 2005 The jewel in the crown of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) is failing, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) said at today's opening of the NAFO annual general assembly in Estonia. More |
| If NAFO's the best example, the deep seas are in deep trouble |
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19 September 2005 The once rich groundfish resources of the Grand Bank have been decimated. The organisation responsible - the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation is fatally flawed, has lost all credibility and must be scrapped, says a report commissioned by the Canadian government. More |
| Oceans unveil how little is known |
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24 August 2005 The latest discovery of underwater life in abundance – coral forests at 1000 metres deep - was released today in Vienna at a conference of marine biologists, underlining recent calls to take a time-out on trawl fishing of the ocean bottom until scientists can accurately assess the real richness of deep sea life and its resources. More |
| DSCC to New Zealand bottom trawl fishing industry – get your facts straight |
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30 June 2005 In a recent press release, New Zealand's Seafood Industry Council seeks to draw attention from the growing support for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling by downplaying and distorting the wealth of existing scientific evidence that demonstrates the destructive nature of high seas bottom trawling. More |
| UNICPOLOS calls on countries to speed up action on high seas bottom trawling |
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In spite of the failure of the European Union to take a leadership role to protect vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on the Law of the Seas (UNICPOLOS) called on countries to accelerate action to protect deep-sea ecosystems and deal with the impact of bottom trawl fishing on the high seas. More |
| Industry Claims Exposed as False |
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14 June 2005 The day after the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on the Law of the Seas (UNICPOLOS) ends, in a region of international waters described as a marine Jurassic park, Greenpeace captured a New Zealand bottom trawling fishing vessel on video - dragging up and throwing overboard giant, ancient, deep water corals (paragorgia), endangered black coral and a rare species of crab. More |
| Initial impressions of UNICPOLOS outcome |
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11 June 2005 Initial impressions of the outcome this year’s meeting of the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS) from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition team in New York. More |
| Maritime Union backs action on bottom trawling |
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9 June 2005 As Greenpeace activists onboard the Rainbow Warrior take action against bottom trawling fishing vessels in the Tasman Sea, the Maritime Union of New Zealand says it supports the direct action. Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says it has become obvious that overfishing and bad practices such as bottom trawling are wrecking the environment, and would also destroy the industry that depends on the environment. More |
| Six good reasons for a time-out on high seas bottom trawling |
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8 June 2005 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition has released a white paper highlighting the six main arguments that have motivated 1,136 scientists from 69 nations to publicly call for an immediate time-out on the most destructive fishing method in the least protected place on Earth – deep sea bottom trawling on the high seas. More |
| High time for high seas: timeout on bottom trawling key to sustainable oceans |
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6 June 2005 As the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS) meeting begins today, the international community faces a crisis of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. More |
| One year on – Greenpeace sets sail to highlight bottom trawling’s destructive impacts |
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31 May 2005 Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior has left Auckland for international waters around New Zealand to highlight the destructive impacts of bottom trawling. The tour follows up on an expedition last year in which Greenpeace documented New Zealand and Belize bottom trawlers operating in the Tasman Sea. More |
| Get your act together & protect fragile footholds for ocean life |
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12 May 2005 Following on from a European tour in which leading marine biologists brought their concerns direct to European decision-makers, a number of European countries are being asked to support a moratorium on bottom trawling on the high seas in the run-up to the EU’s Law of the Sea Working Group (COMAR) meeting on Friday 13 May. More |
| From words to jellyfish soup and seafloor rubble |
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3 May 2005 Called ‘Moving from Words to Actions’, it was hailed as the meeting where fisheries ministers would take action to conserve the high seas. But the Ministerial declaration released yesterday from the Canadian High Seas Governance Conference in St. John’s Newfoundland completely ignores the issue of environmental destruction caused by bottom trawling, fails to protect habitats or make commitments to specific actions, and does not set deadlines. More |
| A call for action at the high seas governance conference |
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2 May 2005 Fishermen, conservation groups, scientists and community economic development representatives attended a two day international conference, held April 29th and 30th in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Participants concluded there are clear negative impacts of bottom trawl fishing gear on the sea floor. More |
| Response to Spanish Position On High Seas Bottom Trawling Moratorium |
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29 April 2005 "The Spanish are now on record as accepting that bottom trawling is extremely detrimental to the fragile habitats of the deep oceans," said Deep Sea Conservation Coordinator, Kelly Rigg. "It is therefore curious that their proposal would not require a single Spanish high seas bottom trawler to immediately stop fishing." More |
| Spain's proposal on bottom trawling a stalling tactic? |
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29 April 2005 At Seafood 2005 in Brussels this week, the Spanish Fisheries Ministry unveiled its new position in response to the growing outrage around the world about the devastating impacts of bottom trawl fishing on the high seas. But is the proposal merely a stalling tactic? More |
| Pioneering undersea explorer Sylvia Earle meets with Spanish government officials and addresses Spanish scientists |
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20 April 2005 On 18 and 19 April, Dr. Sylvia Earle met with Spanish scientists and government officials to advocate that Spain, a major fishing nation, has an opportunity to act constructively for the conservation of deep sea marine biodiversity by supporting a UN General Assembly moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. More |
| International scientists visit European Parliament with call for action to stop the destruction of deep ocean habitats in international waters |
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19 April 2005 Leading deep sea scientists today spoke out against the European Community's failure to fulfil its commitments to protect the seabed from high seas bottom trawling. More |
| First countries embrace UN Task Force recommendations including the elimination of high seas bottom trawling |
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15 April 2005 The Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea are the first countries to adopt and begin implementation of a series of recommendations made by the United Nations (UN) Task Force on Environmental Sustainability, including the elimination of high seas bottom trawling. More |
| Fisheries Ministers fail to take action |
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12 March 2005 Fisheries Ministers from around the world meeting in Rome today, have failed to agree action to protect deep-sea biodiversity from the destructive impact of bottom trawl fishing on the high seas. More |
| Ocean dead or alive? High time for time out on high seas bottom trawling |
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23 February 2005 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) urged environment ministers at the Global Ministerial Environment Forum to act - both at home within their governments and collectively at the international level - and support a UN moratorium on bottom trawling on the high seas this year. More |
| US move signals hope for saving marine habitats |
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21 February 2005 Seeking to protect deep-sea coral beds and other sensitive fish habitat, a US federal fishing council banned bottom trawling this month over more than 370,000 square miles off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the largest such action taken anywhere in the world. More |
| Iceland and allies block progressive marine protection measures at CBD SBSTTA 10 |
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11 February 2005 Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and Brazil expressed dismay that action on marine issues appeared to take a step backwards at CBD SBSTTA 10. Deep Sea Conservation Coalition member Greenpeace, attending the meeting, sought to strengthen a number of draft goals and targets designed to help governments reduce and halt the loss of marine and coastal biodiversity by 2010. More |
| International Conference on Biodiversity, Science and Governance Ends with Strong Call for Deep Sea Protection |
| 28 January 2005 The International Conference on Biodiversity, Science and Governance in Paris will close today with a strong call on the international community to meet its goal of halting the decline in global biodiversity by 2010. Critical among the areas of the planet high in biodiversity and under threat are the often-neglected deep oceans. More |
| Coalition calls on SIDS and international community to address environmental vulnerabilities of Pacific Island countries and halt the destruction of high seas biodiversity by deep sea bottom trawlers |
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2 January 2005 The Pacific Islands and island people are living on vulnerable environmental frontlines. "As indigenous people, we depend on biodiversity for our traditional ways of life, and are entitled to an equitable share of benefits," said Maureen Penjueli, speaking for indigenous peoples at the SIDS Panel on Environmental Vulnerability. More |
| Latest reports warn urgent action needed to face oceans crisis |
| 7 December 2004 In a report focusing on the impacts of fishing in the north-east Atlantic, the prestigious UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) concludes that drastic and urgent action is needed to save the marine environment from further destruction by fishing, including the ruinous effects of deep sea bottom trawlers. More |
| Call for UN action on high seas destruction gains momentum |
| 25 November 2004 The IUCN World Conservation Congress has adopted a resolution calling for United Nations (UN) action to protect the world's oceans from high seas bottom trawl fishing. More |
| Baton of high seas protection passes to WCC as UN fails to take action |
| 21 November 2004 A global coalition of conservation organizations today called on members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) attending the World Conservation Congress (WCC) to agree to a resolution that will help protect deep sea biodiversity on the high seas. The coalition was joined in this call by Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Minister of Environment and Energy for Costa Rica. More |
| UN General Assembly - High Seas Bottom Trawling To Continue Unchecked But The Tide Is Turning |
| 16 November 2004 Ten years ago the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force, bringing management and coordination to the world's oceans, but the treaty largely failed to anticipate the development of deep water fishing on the high seas. More |
| Bottom trawl fishing must be abandoned |
| 15 November 2004 In an interview with coalition member Ecoceanos, Ambassador Jorge Berguno, from Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the country's most respected diplomats and probably one of the most knowledgeable persons on the Law of the Sea in Chile today, said that "bottom trawl fishing must be abandoned". More |
| Greenpeace halts deep sea destruction |
| 12 November 2004 Further to the discovery and documentation of two Spanish-flagged vessels bottom trawling in the Atlantic last month, Greenpeace took action against a third vessel, the Lithuanian-flagged Anuva owned and operated out of Spain. The actions took place as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Council met in London, just days ahead of the United Nations General Assembly debate on the future of the high seas in New York on 16 November. More |
| Getting active in support of a moratorium |
| 27 October 2004 Oceana launched a cyberalert asking Spain to support a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling and Greenpeace delivered the first batch of a projected 100,000 postcards calling on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to work with States to establish a UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. More |
| How much more evidence does the United Nations need? |
| 26 October 2004 A bright orange spider crab spanning almost two metres and black-skinned, luminous-eyed sharks are just some of the rare deep sea creatures dumped from the nets of an EU bottom trawling vessel. More |
| "Orphan Ocean" In Need Of Protection By World Family |
| 25 October 2004 Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society (OFS) call on United Nations members to support a global moratorium on bottom trawling of the high seas. More |
| Deep Sea Conservation Coalition launch in Argentina |
| 25 October 2004 Coalition member, CeDePesca, hosted a workshop in Buenos Aires for NGOs, scientists, the fishing industry and government representatives to discuss the need for a high seas moratorium on bottom trawl fishing. More |
| Request to APEC for a moratorium on bottom trawling fishing activities |
| 19 October 2004 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition met with fisheries and aquaculture experts at APEC's Integrated Oceans Management Forum III, on Easter Island. More |
| EU fleet exposed destroying deep sea life as UN meets to discuss protection |
| 18 October 2004 The needless destruction of the high seas was exposed by Greenpeace this morning, after documenting a EU bottom trawler operating in the North Atlantic. More |
| EU protects deep sea corals around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands from bottom trawling |
| 11 October 2004 The European General Affairs Council has just adopted a proposal from the European Commission for urgent measures to protect deep sea coral reefs around the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands. More |
| Ocean conservation the next global warming issue - policymakers must act quickly to avert looming oceans crisis |
| 9 October 2004 An article appearing in the Washington Post warns that the oceans are in crisis and points to a number of ominous signs, the sharp decline in fish stocks over the past few decades being one of the clearest. More |
| Costa Rica submits language for a moratorium on bottom trawling on the high seas |
| 7 October 2004 The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is actively encouraging all Member States to support Costa Rica's additions submitted to the chairs of the negotiations on both the UNGA Fisheries Resolution and the Oceans Resolution. More |
| Around the world, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition calls for UN action to stop the deep sea destruction |
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5 October 2004 Deep sea bottom trawling has been compared to clearcutting ancient forests or using a bulldozer to catch rabbits. Campaigning to save the high seas from the most destructive form of fishing, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition held press conferences in London, New York and Chile. More |
| Rapacious Fishing Threatens Ancient Seabed Habitats - Call For UN To Take Action |
| 5 October 2004 A Coalition of leading environmental and conservation organisations today warned that the international community is failing to protect seabed habitats of the high seas, as oceans negotiations begin at the United Nations (UN) this week. More |
| Micronesia and Palau call for moratorium on deep sea bottom trawling |
| 29 September 2004 Addressing national leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly Sebastian Anefal, the Federated States of Micronesia's Foreign Minister reiterated the call made on 23 September by Palau’s Vice President, Sandra Pierantozzi for a moratorium on deep sea bottom trawling. More |
| Why is the New Zealand Government Wimping Out to the Fishing Industry? |
| 24 September 2004 Greenpeace criticizes the decision of the New Zealand government to take a weak "case by case" approach to deal with the greatest threat to life in the deep sea: bottom trawling. More |
| United Nations General Assembly must play the lead role in resolving the threat to deep-sea biodiversity posed by bottom trawling on the high seas |
| 20 September 2004 In a letter to EU Fisheries Minister Franz Fischler and the External Affairs, Environment and Fisheries Ministers of all EU Member States, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition expressed deep concern "if the European Union were to advocate that the UN FAO and/or Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) take the lead in resolving this issue. More |
| Mikhail Gorbachev presents a letter on behalf of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition to Spain's agriculture and fisheries minister |
| 13 September 2004 Mikhail Gorbachev presents a letter on behalf of the Deep Sea Conservation
Coalition to Elena Espinosa, Spain's Minister for Agriculture
and Fisheries, calling on Spain to support a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. More |
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