Experts will examine how to protect cold-water corals, sponges, seamounts and submarine canyons and their interaction with deep-sea fishing.
Photo: Oscar Ocana
Malaga hosts a meeting of the experts group for the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean, co-organized for the first time by the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the FAO, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and OCEANA.
More than 30 experts will examine the information available on potential vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean, ranging from cold-water corals and sponges to submarine canyons and their interaction with deep-sea fisheries.
These marine ecosystems are often associated with high levels of biodiversity and provide habitats for commercial benthic species such as hakes and shrimps, among others. The group of experts will work on the selection of species and habitats considered as indicators for the identification of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.
The meeting of this group of experts is the starting point of a process towards the future implementation of an ecosystem approach in the management of deep-sea fisheries in the Mediterranean, in order to comply with the resolutions adopted by the United Nations in the management of deep-sea fisheries in high seas (Resolutions UNGA 59/25, 61/105 y 64/72).
The report of the group of experts will be taken to the meeting of the Scientific Committee of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, which will be held next May, and if validated, it will also be presented during the meeting of the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean States of the month of October to advance in the process of protection of these ecosystems.
In addition to the organization of this event, the IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Center has contributed to the sponsorship of experts from different Mediterranean countries for their participation in this experts group meeting. The meeting is held from April 3rd to 5th at the La Noria de la Diputación de Málaga.
For more information: Maria del Mar Otero
