Identify VMEs and assess fish stocks*

C NAFO has closed a substantial deep-sea area of the southern slope of the Grand Banks and four seamount areas where VMEs are likely to occur (see following section). However, NAFO has yet to systematically identify VMEs in its regulatory area.

With respect to the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks, NAFO regularly conducts assessments of deep sea fish stocks,and establishes management measures for most deep-sea fisheries, but these have not been sufficient to prevent the continued decline of most of these stocks, in particular Greenland halibut and grenadiers.

D NEAFC has identified a number of cold-water coral areas on the Hatton and Rockall Banks. However, NEAFC has yet to adopt and implement a comprehensive program to identify VMEs within its regulatory area

.With respect to the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks, NEAFC has adopted an effort limitation scheme for deep-sea fisheries but the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which regularly advises contracting parties to NEAFC on the status of deep-sea fish stocks and recommends management measures, has repeatedly stated that deep-sea species in the Northeast Atlantic are highly vulnerable to overfishing but that it is difficult to assess the status of target fish stocks because basic information on catch and effort in deep-water fisheries and information on the life history of the species concerned is generally poor or non-existent. ICES has concluded that most exploited deep-sea species in the Northeast Atlantic are "outside safe biological limits".

D SEAFO - As indicated in the following section, although SEAFO has closed ten seamount areas where VMEs are known or likely to occur, the Scientific Committee has recommended that mapping should be conducted to identify vulnerable habitats in any area where bottom trawl fishing occurs. However, this was not agreed at the 2007 meeting of SEAFO.

In regard to the long term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks, the Scientific Committee of SEAFO has stated that due to a lack of sufficient information on the status of targeted deep-sea stocks that it cannot provide management advice to SEAFO parties. However, SEAFO has agreed to a limit on the catch of deep-sea red crabs and toothfish; the latter taking into account CCAMLR conservation measures.

A CCAMLR's Conservation Measure 22-06 (2007) requires the Scientific Committee to advise the Commission on where VMEs are known to occur or are likely to occur based on the best available scientific information, and to advise on potential mitigation measures. Parties are obliged to assist with the provision of information. The Secretariat is required to maintain an inventory, which includes digital maps of all known VMEs in the Convention Area, for circulation to all contracting parties and other relevant bodies.

The Scientific Committee must also provide advice to the Commission on the known and anticipated impacts of bottom fishing activities on VMEs, and recommend practices, including ceasing fishing operations if required, when a VME is encountered in the course of bottom fishing operations. The Commission will adopt initial measures at its 2008 meeting that are to be applied when evidence of a VME is encountered in the course of fishing operations.

To provide the required information, the Scientific Committee and its Fish Stocks Assessment Working Group have outlined a detailed work plan, which includes immediately beginning to collect and analyse data and to develop assessment procedures.

Scientific bottom trawling activities are also covered.

Regarding the long-term sustainability of deep-sea fish stocks, CCAMLR has established comprehensive management measures for deep-sea fisheries. However, stocks of Patagonian toothfish, the most important of the deep-sea species targeted in bottom fisheries in the Southern Ocean, are considered to be fully exploited in some areas and over exploited in others. One of the biggest problems in the management of this fishery is the prevalence of IUU fishing for toothfish in the region.

U The GFCM has already identified and closed three areas containing vulnerable marine ecosystems (corals, seamounts, cold seeps). However, more work needs to be done to address this at its 32nd Session in February 2008.

Unfortunately it was not possible to review the information available on the status of deep-sea fish stocks on the high seas of the Mediterranean for this document.

B NWP RFMO - Early assessments of deep sea stocks are ongoing though this information is not yet publicly available; the status of most deep-sea stocks targeted for commercial exploitation on the high seas is currently unknown. Interim Measures include agreement to develop criteria for assessing whether bottom fishing would have significant adverse effects on 'marine species', which include deep sea fish, and to cease fishing after 31 December 2008 where such effects are likely unless management measures are adopted to prevent them.

B SP RFMO -Parties to the Interim Measures agreed in May 2007 in Renaca, Chile have agreed to cooperate to identify, on the basis of the best available scientific information, vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Area and to map sites where these ecosystems are located, and provide such data and information to the Interim Secretariat for circulation to all Participants.

In its Interim Measures, the SP RFMO has agreed to freeze fishing effort and to implement measures for new or expanding areas for deep fish stocks, beginning in 2010.

It has also agreed to close to bottom fishing areas where VMEs are known or likely to occur unless, based on an assessment, conservation and management measures have been established to prevent significant adverse impacts on VMEs and the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stocks, or it has been determined that such bottom fishing will not have significant adverse impacts on VMEs or the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stocks. However, at this point the status of most of the deep-sea species targeted for commercial exploitation on the high seas of the South Pacific is unknown.