Applying an ecosystem-based
approach to fisheries management:
focus on seamounts in the southern
Indian Ocean
Agulhas and Somali Current
Large Marine Ecosystems Project

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Background
• FUNDING
GEF Medium-size project (1 mio. USD)
• IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• FOCAL AREA
International Waters
• STRATEGIC PROGRAMME
Restoring and sustaining coastal and marine fish stocks and
associated biological diversity
• DURATION
April 2009 – October 2012

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Main co-funders and partners
Institute of Zoology, London (~4 mio. USD) & SIODFA
FAO EAF-Nansen Project (~ 800,000 USD)
IMR, Norway
Cooperation Agency, Norway
Agulhas and Somali Current LME Project (150,000 USD)
African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme
Marine Ecology Lab, Reunion University (200,000 €)
Southern Indian Ocean Deepsea Fishers Association

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Organigram
Project Steering Committee
UNDP
IUCN
FAO
WCPA
ZSL
ASCLME
SIODFA (observer)
Project Management Unit
(PMU)
Project Coordinator
Administrative Assistant /
communications and
guidance support
Finance Officer
PMU cooperates with
these projects
ASCLME
SWIOFPACEPPMU cooperates with
these organisations
SWIOFC IOC IOTC Nairobi Convention
Cruise Coordinator

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Overall goal
“To apply an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries
management for biologically- globally significant and
commercially-important areas beyond national
jurisdiction in the southern Indian Ocean, focusing on
seamounts, with a long-term aim to demonstrate
innovative approaches to improve conservation and
management of unique biodiversity and ecological
resources in the high seas”

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Why SW Indian Ocean?
Global database of coral records
Predicted habitat suitability of stony corals
on seamounts
Global knowledge gap

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Governance and management gap
Distribution of major fisheries on seamounts Only large-scale conservation initiative
• No comprehensive conservation and management framework for the high seas
of the Indian Ocean
Fisheries
• Lack of implementation of existing instruments (e.g. UNCLOS, CBD, UNFSA,
etc.), including UNGA resolution 61/105?
• SIOFA not yet in force
Other threats (incl. climate change)

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Why seamounts?
• Hotspots of
biodiversity
• Strong benthic-
pelagic coupling
• Habitats for
commercially-
important species
• Vulnerability of species and ecosystems
• Risk linked to destructive fishing practices

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Project objectives
Objective 1 – Biodiversity Assessment
Improve scientific understanding and capacity for monitoring, assessment
and analysis of high seas biodiversity and fisheries
Objective 2 - Governance
Enhance governance framework for high seas resources conservation and
management
Objective 3 - Management
Identify management and compliance options for deep and high seas
biodiversity in the southern Indian Ocean, based on precautionary and
ecosystem-based approaches
Objective 4 - Outreach
Raise awareness of and share knowledge with policy makers, the fishing
industry and the public regionally and internationally

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Project objectives (1)
• Biodiversity assessment
• Fishing activities’ impacts assessment
Improve knowledge and understanding of seamounts
A = Atlantis, B = Sapmer, C = Bridle, D = Melville, E = Coral
Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge
5 seamount areas – all exclusively on
the high seas
3 inside proposed BPAs (A, C & E)
2 outside BPAs (B & D)
• BPAs effectiveness assessment
• Capacity building

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
How & when
Cruise 1
• RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen
• Aim: 40 days, November-December 2009
• Focus: pelagic ecosystems and biodiversity, pelagic fishery
resources and oceanography
• Some activities:
- Acoustic and net-studies of zooplankton, micronekton, nekton and fish
populations
- Sampling of animals for studies of pelagic biodiversity, trophic ecology,
genetics
- Sampling of fish for analysis of species diversity, age / size structure of
populations and genetics

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Cruise 2
• Led by IOZ/ZSL on the James Cook (?)
• Aim: 40 days, end 2011
• Focus: benthic ecosystems and biodiversity, benthic fishery
resources and impact assessment of bottom fishing activities
• Some activities:
- ROV-based surveys of seamounts to estimate abundance and diversity
of the fauna
- Some surface-based sampling to analyse the diversity of smaller
organisms living on seamounts (those not visible with ROV cameras)
- Collection of specimens for taxonomic identification, trophic ecology
studies, reproductive biological studies, genetic studies,
palaeooceanographic analyses

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Project objectives (2)
• Institutional and legal gap analysis (international to national); development of
options for improvement and strengthening of legal and institutional framework
for high seas resources in the Indian Ocean
• Fisheries situation analysis
• Identification and analysis of threats other than fisheries
(2) Enhance governance framework for high seas resources conservation
and management

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Project objectives (3)
(3) Identify management and compliance options for deep and high seas
biodiversity in the southern Indian Ocean, based on the ecosystem
approach
• Identification of conservation and
management options based on the
precautionary and ecosystem
approaches, and in line with res.
61/105
• Identification of appropriate
monitoring, control and surveillance
systems to maximise compliance and
enforcement
• Development of a draft management
framework for high seas biodiversity
and important high seas areas in the
SIO

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Project objectives (4)
• Dissemination of information at relevant regional and international fora (policy
briefs, research results, etc.)
• Liaison and exchange of information with relevant institutions (NGOs, scientific
entities, international organisations, fisheries associations, international
programmes, etc.)
• Communications
• Website & cruise blog
• Brochure
• Films, pictures, display
• Pictorial book
• Articles (media and specialised press)
(3) Outreach

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
Where to next?
• Southwest Atlantic?
• Pacific?
• Whole Indian Ocean basin?

IUCN – Global Marine ProgrammeSIODFA Meeting, Vigo, Spain, 14 September 2009
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!