ABNJ Deep Seas Project: Bottom Fisheries in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
Fishing with bottom-contact gear in areas beyond
national jurisdiction (ABNJ) occurs on continental
shelves, slopes or isolated oceanic topographic structures
such as seamounts, ridge systems and banks.
FAO estimates that the total global catch in 2014
caught by bottom-contact fishing gear in ABNJ was
around 150 000 tonnes (excluding the Mediterranean),
comprising of about 50 species in reported catches,
and involved less than 11 flag States.
Flag States, regional fisheries management
organizations or arrangements (RFMO/As) and other
multi-lateral bodies with a fisheries management
mandate are managing these bottom fisheries in the
ABNJ. Currently, there are eight of these bodies, three
of which were created in the last five years.
For more information about ABNJ, see www.commonoceans.org/deep-seas-biodiversity/en/
The Fisheries Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) is a partnership of intergovernmental fisheries organizations that share a wide range of high-quality information on the global monitoring and management of marine fishery resources. FIRMS aims to provide decision-makers with the best and most authoritative informatioN possible in order to develop effective fisheries policies in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Download the FIRMS brochure for more information
FIRMS website
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts
All of NAFO’s publications and documents are indexed in the ASFA Database, which provides the most comprehensive information to a global audience for abstracting and indexing services in the aquatic and fisheries field. ASFA’s ability to provide deep indexing, links to full text and the indexing of ‘grey literature’, ensures documents, publications and general information pertaining to aquatic sciences and fisheries is available to a wide audience.
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) is an International Cooperative Information System which comprises an abstracting and indexing service covering the world's literature on the science, technology, management, and conservation of marine, brackish water, and freshwater resources and environments, including their socio-economic and legal aspects.
For more information about ASFA, visit
www.fao.org/fishery/asfa/en
