Applying an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management: focus on seamounts in the southern

Indian Ocean

Agulhas and Somali CurrentLarge Marine Ecosystems Project

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Background• FUNDING

GEF Medium-size project (1 mio. USD) • IMPLEMENTING AGENCY

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) • FOCAL AREA

International Waters• STRATEGIC PROGRAMME

Restoring and sustaining coastal and marine fish stocks and associated biological diversity

• DURATIONApril 2009 – October 2012

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Main co-funders and partners

Institute of Zoology, London (~4 mio. USD) & SIODFA

FAO EAF-Nansen Project (~ 800,000 USD)

IMR, Norway

Cooperation Agency, Norway

Agulhas and Somali Current LME Project (150,000 USD)

African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme

Marine Ecology Lab, Reunion University (200,000 €)

Southern Indian Ocean Deepsea Fishers Association

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

OrganigramProject Steering Committee

UNDP

IUCN

FAO

WCPA

ZSL

ASCLME

SIODFA (observer)

Project Management Unit (PMU)

Project Coordinator

Administrative Assistant / communications and

guidance support

Finance Officer

PMU cooperates with these projects

ASCLME

SWIOFPACEPPMU cooperates with these organisations

SWIOFC IOC IOTC Nairobi Convention

Cruise Coordinator

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Overall goal

“To apply an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management for biologically- globally significant and

commercially-important areas beyond national jurisdiction in the southern Indian Ocean, focusing on

seamounts, with a long-term aim to demonstrate innovative approaches to improve conservation and management of unique biodiversity and ecological

resources in the high seas”

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Why SW Indian Ocean?

Global database of coral recordsPredicted habitat suitability of stony corals on seamounts

Global knowledge gap

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Governance and management gap

Distribution of major fisheries on seamounts Only large-scale conservation initiative

• No comprehensive conservation and management framework for the high seas of the Indian Ocean

Fisheries

• Lack of implementation of existing instruments (e.g. UNCLOS, CBD, UNFSA, etc.), including UNGA resolution 61/105?

• SIOFA not yet in force

Other threats (incl. climate change)

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Why seamounts?• Hotspots of

biodiversity• Strong benthic-

pelagic coupling

• Habitats for commercially-important species

• Vulnerability of species and ecosystems• Risk linked to destructive fishing practices

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Project objectives

Objective 1 – Biodiversity AssessmentImprove scientific understanding and capacity for monitoring, assessment and analysis of high seas biodiversity and fisheries

Objective 2 - GovernanceEnhance governance framework for high seas resources conservation and management

Objective 3 - ManagementIdentify management and compliance options for deep and high seas biodiversity in the southern Indian Ocean, based on precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches

Objective 4 - OutreachRaise awareness of and share knowledge with policy makers, the fishing industry and the public regionally and internationally

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Project objectives (1)

• Biodiversity assessment• Fishing activities’ impacts assessment

Improve knowledge and understanding of seamounts

A = Atlantis, B = Sapmer, C = Bridle, D = Melville, E = Coral

Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge 5 seamount areas – all exclusively on the high seas 3 inside proposed BPAs (A, C & E) 2 outside BPAs (B & D)

• BPAs effectiveness assessment• Capacity building

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

How & whenCruise 1 • RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen• Aim: 40 days, November-December 2009• Focus: pelagic ecosystems and biodiversity, pelagic fishery

resources and oceanography• Some activities:

- Acoustic and net-studies of zooplankton, micronekton, nekton and fish populations

- Sampling of animals for studies of pelagic biodiversity, trophic ecology, genetics

- Sampling of fish for analysis of species diversity, age / size structure of populations and genetics

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Cruise 2• Led by IOZ/ZSL on the James Cook (?)• Aim: 40 days, end 2011• Focus: benthic ecosystems and biodiversity, benthic fishery

resources and impact assessment of bottom fishing activities• Some activities:

- ROV-based surveys of seamounts to estimate abundance and diversity of the fauna

- Some surface-based sampling to analyse the diversity of smaller organisms living on seamounts (those not visible with ROV cameras)

- Collection of specimens for taxonomic identification, trophic ecology studies, reproductive biological studies, genetic studies, palaeooceanographic analyses

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Project objectives (2)

• Institutional and legal gap analysis (international to national); development of options for improvement and strengthening of legal and institutional framework for high seas resources in the Indian Ocean

• Fisheries situation analysis• Identification and analysis of threats other than fisheries

(2) Enhance governance framework for high seas resources conservation and management

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Project objectives (3)

(3) Identify management and compliance options for deep and high seas biodiversity in the southern Indian Ocean, based on the ecosystem approach

• Identification of conservation and management options based on the precautionary and ecosystem approaches, and in line with res. 61/105

• Identification of appropriate monitoring, control and surveillance systems to maximise compliance and enforcement

• Development of a draft management framework for high seas biodiversity and important high seas areas in the SIO

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Project objectives (4)

• Dissemination of information at relevant regional and international fora (policy briefs, research results, etc.)

• Liaison and exchange of information with relevant institutions (NGOs, scientific entities, international organisations, fisheries associations, international programmes, etc.)

• Communications• Website & cruise blog• Brochure• Films, pictures, display• Pictorial book • Articles (media and specialised press)

(3) Outreach

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

Where to next?

• Southwest Atlantic?

• Pacific?

• Whole Indian Ocean basin?

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!