The relevance of the CoML to international oceans policy: 2003-2008 and beyond

1. The relevance of the CoML to international oceans policy:2003-2008 and beyond Kristina Maria Gjerde IUCN High Seas Policy Advisor Warsaw, Poland Census of Marine Life Steering Committee Valencia, Spain, 16 November 2008

2. Greatest threat to the deep seas in 2003

3. Thank You CoML!

4. Who or what is IUCN? World’s oldest and largest global environmental network – States, Governmental agencies and NGOS Helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. • supports scientific research • manages field projects • brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

5. Legacy of CoML: Putting a face on the blue planet Google Earth

7. Policy-related impacts • High seas bottom fishing • UNGA resolution 61/105 • Protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems • 80. Calls upon States to take action immediately, … consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems [VME], 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;

8. High seas fisheries Patterns of overfishing New tools to inform fisheries management Policy-related impacts

9. Policy-related impacts Two populations of bluefin tuna in the North Atlantic that share common feeding grounds as adolescent and adults but sort to western breeding grounds (orange) and the Mediterranean Sea (White). Block, et al. Nature, 2005

10. Policy-related impacts • Ecosystem-based management • Biodiversity hotspots • Global open ocean and deep sea biogeographic classification system (GOODS) Les Watling, Malcolm Clark, Elva Escobar, Kathy Scanlon, Craig Smith & others

11. Global Commitments: World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002 • halting the decline of biodiversity by 2010; • encouraging the application of the Ecosystem Approach in marine management by 2010; • establishing representative marine protected area networks by 2012; • restoring depleted fish stocks to maximum sustainable yields by 2015, where possible • eliminating destructive fishing practices

12. Next challenges • Area-based management • Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas

13. SCIENTIFIC CRITERIA FORIDENTIFYING ECOLOGICALLY OR BIOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT MARINE AREAS IN NEED OF PROTECTION, IN OPEN-OCEAN WATERS AND DEEP-SEA HABITATS Uniqueness or Rarity Special importance for life history stages of species Importance for threatened, endangered or declining species and/or habitats Vulnerability, Fragility, Sensitivity, or Slow recovery Biological Productivity Biological Diversity Naturalness Courtesy Les Watling and Elva Escobar

14. Next challenges • Area-based management • Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas • Development of representative networks

15. SCIENTIFIC GUIDANCE FOR DESIGNING A REPRESENTATIVE NETWORK OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS, INCLUDING IN OPEN OCEAN WATERS AND DEEP-SEA HABITATS Ecologically and biologically significant areas Representativity Connectivity Replicated ecological features Adequate & Viable sites Courtesy Les Watling and Elva Escobar

16. Next challenges • Area-based management • Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas • Development of classification systems to identify representative areas • Further refinement of biogeographic classification systems

17. — missing mesopelagic realm and bentho-pelagic coupling Mark Spalding, Vera Agostini, Ben Raymond, Jake Rice, Kathryn Scanlon

18. New High Seas Initiative (core-support from the German government): To implement CBD COP9 Decision IX/20 • Engage a broad network of high seas scientists through their research already being undertaken, which could be applied to these international high seas conservation criteria; • Collate relevant data and research results in a centralized location; • Identify and prioritize critical information gaps; • Identify and discuss challenges faced in the data-sparse high seas environment, • Develop realistic approaches and guidelines for addressing these; • Conduct “meta-analyses” (analysis of combined analyses) to produce initial indications of potential ecologically and biologically significant areas and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

19. Next challenges • Implementing UNGA 61/105 on deep sea bottom fishing on the high seas • Identify and mapping vulnerable marine ecosystems • Define ‘significant adverse impacts’ • Life histories and recovery rates • Practical management implications • Defining thresholds and trigger levels • FAO Guidelines need to be further elaborated • Detail worked at RFMO level

20. Additional challenges ….… and opportunities • Global Marine Assessment • Baseline assessment of open ocean and deep sea • Marine genetic resources • Gold mine or minefield? • Climate change • Impacts and implications • New tools and technologies

21. The problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole(Preamble to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982). SeaWiFS Project/NASA

22. Many thanks!kgjerde@eip.com.pl www.protectplanetocean.com