By EDF Oceans
The tenth annual Our Ocean Convention (OOC) in Busan, South Korea is occurring this week, and we’re glad to hitch the dialog on a number of matters related to our work. This 12 months, the convention is ready to debate “digital oceans,” looking at using expertise in ocean areas as a software for supporting sustainability.
Here’s a take a look at some highlights from EDF’s engagement at this 12 months’s convention.
The Mesopelagic Zone
From 200 meters to 1,000 meters deep within the oceans lies the mesopelagic zone, identified additionally because the ocean twilight zone. It might comprise solely 20 p.c of the ocean’s quantity, however don’t let that idiot you, it additionally accommodates 90 p.c of the ocean’s fish biomass, making it a major supply of biodiversity within the ocean. Plus, the species within the mesopelagic play a important function within the functioning of the ocean’s organic carbon pump. By migrating as much as the floor at night time to feed after which returning to the mesopelagic, these creatures assist to maneuver carbon from the floor waters to the deep the place it may be locked away, making them vital local weather allies.
There may be rising curiosity in fishing within the mesopelagic zone, significantly to attempt to faucet into new sources for fishmeal and fish oil. To this point, it has not been commercially viable to take action, however curiosity and strain is mounting, which might threaten the wealth of biodiversity within the mesopelagic zone and the local weather advantages it offers. There may be a lot nonetheless to study this vital a part of the ocean, and we have to act now to guard these important features except and till we are able to be certain that human actions wouldn’t jeopardize them.
At OOC, EDF and our companions at Ocean Conservancy, Marine Conservation Institute, and Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment will host a roundtable, bringing collectively scientists, authorities representatives, and different related stakeholders centered on driving motion within the mesopelagic zone.
The roundtable will even cowl the IUCN Mesopelagic Movement, which shall be voted on by IUCN members later this 12 months on the 2025 World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The movement would pause the enlargement of fishing and different actions which will influence mesopelagic species that aren’t at the moment commercially fished. That’s, till we higher perceive mesopelagic ecosystems and the actions that have an effect on them, set up correct guidelines and laws for fisheries in addition to clear catch and bycatch studies. The movement additionally engages the IUCN’s networks and helps conservation efforts and requires commitments by UN Common Meeting resolutions.
Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Community
The Fishing Vessel Ocean Observing Community (FVON) is working to advance ocean observing in partnership with the fishing trade world wide. The community, which consists of scientists, practitioners, and others, fills important gaps in oceanographic information from coastal and shelf seas. Filling these gaps can have important, typically life-saving, impacts via higher predicting excessive climate occasions and improved fishery administration.
At OOC, FVON is making an bold dedication to scale its initiative whereas persevering with to return advantages to fishers:
By 2030, tens of hundreds of fishing vessels world wide are collaborating with FVON in ocean commentary. We are going to be certain that fishers obtain direct advantages from information assortment and work to drive a step-change enchancment in our understanding of marine ecosystems that powers an equitable and sustainable blue financial system.
With over 500 fishing vessels taking part in FVON actions, ten pilot tasks worldwide and an endorsement as an rising community of the International Ocean Observing System, FVON’s dedication represents a invaluable step ahead in sustainably managing and understanding our altering ocean.
The publish Our Ocean, Our Motion: See You in Busan! appeared first on EDFish.
