seamount

Seamounts ARE vulnerable marine ecosystems

29 July, 2016

Source: Marine Conservation Institute

Author: Les Watling

The concept of a vulnerable marine ecosystem, commonly referred to by its acronym VME, in high seas marine conservation management is about a decade old. United Nations General Assembly resolution 61/105 called “upon States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems [VMEs], including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, from destructive fishing practices, recognizing the immense importance and value of deep-sea ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain.”

Continue reading Seamounts ARE vulnerable marine ecosystems

Share this article:

Ocean monument: Growing momentum for Obama to establish new Pacific marine preserves before leaving office

15 July, 2016

Source: Mercury News Science & Environment

Author: Paul Rogers

A new effort to convince President Barack Obama to establish a huge new national monument in the Pacific Ocean off California before he leaves office six months from now is gaining momentum.

Continue reading Ocean monument: Growing momentum for Obama to establish new Pacific marine preserves before leaving office

Share this article:

NAFO closes seamounts to bottom fishing, fails to regulate Alphonsino fishery

25 September, 2015

The 37th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) concluded today in Halifax, Canada. Member countries agreed to several measures that will lead to improved ecosystem protection, but did not follow scientific advice provided over the past two years to close a number of deep-sea coral and sponge areas to bottom trawling or to regulate the fishery for alphonsino, a deep-sea species fished on the high seas of the northwest Atlantic.

Continue reading NAFO closes seamounts to bottom fishing, fails to regulate Alphonsino fishery

Share this article:

Compromising the Ecology of the Deep

24 September, 2015

Source: Huffington Post

Author: Dr Lisa Levin

Many of us know that most of planet Earth is covered with ocean — about 70 percent. We probably should have been named planet Ocean. But how many know that most of our planet is covered with deep ocean? That ocean waters deeper than 200 meters (656 feet) cover about two-thirds of the surface of the planet and more than 95 percent of the habitable volume? Most of this vast area is unexplored. We know less about the bottom of the ocean than we do about the surface of the moon, and as a result, most of the biological species in the ocean remain undiscovered.

Continue reading Compromising the Ecology of the Deep

Share this article:

A statement by the deep-sea research community for consideration by UNFCCC

2 September, 2015

A statement by the deep-sea research community for consideration by UNFCCC

DEEP OCEAN MITIGATION AND RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The deep sea is an integral part of the earth system and plays a significant role in minimizing the impact of human released CO2 on the earth’s climate. The waters and seafloor below 200m are one of the largest sinks of excess carbon dioxide and heat and have already absorbed more than a quarter of anthropogenic atmospheric CO2. Ocean acidification, warming and deoxygenation resulting from human CO2 release has already been observed in deep waters and these impacts are projected to intensify in coming decades.

Continue reading A statement by the deep-sea research community for consideration by UNFCCC

Share this article:

North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission makes limited progress to protect deep-sea species and habitats

14 November, 2014

London, November 14, 2014 – The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) this week agreed to close six new areas totaling around 11,000 square kilometres to bottom fishing to protect vulnerable deep-sea species ecosystems and extended its prohibition on the catch of several shark species.

Continue reading North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission makes limited progress to protect deep-sea species and habitats

Share this article: