Primnoid coral with polychaetes
Photo: David Shale, 2011
IUCN led the Seamounts Project on applying an ecosystem approach to fisheries management - a focus on seamounts in the southern Indian Ocean between 2009 and 2013.
The objective of this United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported Global Environment Facillity (GEF) financed project was to develop ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) using case studies from the southern Indian Ocean. More specifically, these management strategies are targeted at seamounts and other areas of significant biological and commercial importance found on the high seas.
The project addressed three main barriers to sustainable fisheries management and marine biodiversity conservation in the high seas: scientific knowledge gaps about seamount ecosystems and their relationship with fisheries resources; lack of comprehensive and effective governance frameworks for marine biodiversity; difficulty of managing offshore fish stocks, including monitoring, control and surveillance.
Seamounts Project (2009-2013)
The aim of the first project, funded by the GEF and supported by UNDP, was to develop ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management for areas of significant biological and commercial importance located in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), the high seas.
Seamounts Project Publication Vol1.
An ecosystem approach to management of seamounts in the Southern Indian Ocean
Volume 1: overview of seamount ecosystems and biodiversity.
Seamounts Project Publication Vol2.
An ecosystem approach to management of seamounts in the Southern Indian Ocean
Volume 2: anthropogenic threats to seamount ecosystems and biodiversity.
Seamounts Project Publication Vol3.
An ecosystem approach to management of seamounts in the Southern Indian Ocean
Volume 3: legal and institutional gap analysis.
Seamounts Project Publication Vol4.
An ecosystem approach to management of seamounts in the Southern Indian Ocean
Volume 4: a road map towards sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in the Southern Indian Ocean.
Photo: @IUCN
State of knowledge on seamounts and hydrothermal vents
