The ABNJ Deep Seas Project reviewed existing international policy and legal instruments to identify those of most relevance to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ. The review focused on identifying instruments that require implementation through national legislation in order to be effective for deep sea fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ.

A step-wise guide of the implementation of international policy and legal instruments was developed. The guide provides practical steps required to integrate instruments related to deep-sea fisheries and biodiversity in ABNJ into national legislation of selected pilot countries.

The project also explored how market-based incentives affect deep-sea fisheries in ABNJ. This included a study assessing how catch documentation schemes (CDS) could be applied to deep-sea fisheries in order to mitigate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

A key aspect of the ABNJ Deep Seas Project involved bringing together different users of ABNJ, each with different expertise and experiences. The sharing of knowledge helped users to better understand the importance of deep-sea living marine resources and habitats in ABNJ, their value and the impacts of human activities on deep-sea biodiversity.

We worked with regional fisheries bodies to develop best practices for implementing measures to reduce significant adverse impacts on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs). These best practices were shared with all regional fisheries bodies. The project also worked closely with scientific organisations to bring together and validate existing information related to Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) so that decision-makers can use it to better protect marine biodiversity.

The ABNJ Deep Seas Project harnessed the expertise of deep-sea specialists and fisheries scientists to undertake reviews of two important deep-sea fisheries species: the orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) and the alfonsino (Beryx splendens). These reviews include key information on species biology, a current assessment of exploitation levels and conservation status, as well as a summary of existing and proposed management methods.

Throughout the project, we worked in close partnership with the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RMFOs) in the Southern Indian Ocean and the South East Atlantic regions to provide an overview of the international legal framework for monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries in ABNJ. Increasing regional knowledge, awareness and capacity related to enforcement and compliance activities is a key aspect of fisheries management and provides options on how to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance capacity within these regions.

The aim of this part of the project was to develop a framework for cross-sectoral area-based planning in ABNJ. To do this, we generated a scientific basis that demonstrated the need for planning across all sectors operating in ABNJ. This was generated by undertaking a series of studies, data reviews and regional workshops with stakeholders. The result was the development of a framework for marine spatial planning in ABNJ, the applicability of which was assessed during a theoretical exercise at a series of regional workshops.

Throughout the project, we worked in close partnership with the Regional Seas Secretariats in the South East Pacific and the Western Indian Ocean to understand the different regional context and priorities and build capacity in relation to area-based planning. Increasing regional knowledge, awareness and capacity related to ABNJ in these two regions was one of the key objectives of the ABNJ Deep Seas Project.