Publications

United Scientific Community Calls For Moratorium On Deep Sea Bottom Trawling on the High Seas

In February 2004, 1,136 scientists from 69 countries released a statement expressing profound concern “that human activities, particularly bottom trawling, are causing unprecedented damage to the deep-sea coral and sponge communities on continental plateaus and slopes, and on seamounts and mid-ocean ridges.” The statement called on governments and the United Nations to establish a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. (For a full text of the statement, see www.mcbi.org).

Available in: English, English US standard, Spanish.

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Deep-Sea Fishing, High Seas

English

1st September 2004

Mysteries and Mountains of the Deep Sea – Conserving Deep-Sea Biodiversity and Habitats

The deep sea is one of the last frontiers on the planet – the home to breathtaking landscapes of mountains, hills, ridges and troughs that very few of us will ever see. Until a short time ago, it was assumed that there was little life in the cold and dark waters of the deep sea, which cover more than half the world’s surface. New technologies, however, have turned that

belief on its head. Today, scientists and the fishing industry know that the deep sea is teeming with life, most of which remains undiscovered. Scientists, in fact, have speculated that as many as 10 million species may inhabit the deep sea – biodiversity comparable to the world’s richest tropical rainforests.

Available in: English, English US Standard, Spanish

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Deep-Sea Fishing, High Seas

English

1st September 2004

Seamounts of the North-East Atlantic

Source: WWF

Although there are tens of thousands of seamounts spread throughout the world’s oceans, these undersea featuresare still little-known environments with regard to their biodiversity, their ecology and the short and long-termeffects of human impacts. However, it has become clear in recent years that seamounts host very specialecosystems which are at risk from intensive exploitation of their natural resources.

Available in English.

 

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Deep-Sea Fishing, High Seas

English

1st November 2003

Frontiers In Ecology: Deep-Sea Corals: Out Of Sight, But No Longer Out Of Mind

Fact, not fiction—corals really do exist, and flourish, hundreds and even thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface. In the last few decades, cameras have recorded beautiful gardens of deep sea coral off the coasts of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand—even deeper than Jules Verne imagined, and every bit as breathtaking. Unlike shallow water coral communities, which are the subject of many nature films, deep sea corals are unfamiliar to the public and even to many marine scientists.

Available in English.

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Deep-Sea Fishing, High Seas

English

1st June 2003

Defying Oceans End, An Agenda for Action, edited by Linda K. Glover and Sylvia A. Earle.

Inspired by an urgent need to address the sharp decline in ocean wildlife, the disturbing increase in ocean pollution and the neglect of policies and resources to solve these problems, a team of international ocean scientists, economists, lawyers and representatives from governments, corporations and the media gathered in Los Cabos, Mexico in May/June 2003 to build a global action plan for ocean conservation. This book is the result. It can be ordered from Island Press.

 

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1st May 2003

Ecosystem-based management of marine capture fisheries

Source: WWF

This paper describes in detail the concept of Ecosystem-Based Management in marine capture fisheries. It is designed to identify the main issues and propose policies and implementation guidance to help resolve those issues. The following map oft he section contents may help readers to quickly identify areas that refer to specific matters of interest.

Available in English.

 

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Deep-Sea Fishing, High Seas

English

1st June 2002