JULY/AUGUST 2023 l VOL 72 ISSUE 7
worldfishing.net
Viewpoint 3 | Analysis 10 | New Horizons 14 | Fishing Technology 40 | Processing 44
TREATY OF THE HIGH SEAS ADOPTED Photo Credit: European Commission
The Treaty of the High Seas was adopted by consensus and standing ovation during the United Nations meeting in New York on 19 June 2023. According to the UN, this treaty – also known as “BBNJ” (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction) – is key to protecting the ocean, promoting equity and fairness, tackling environmental degradation, fighting climate change, and preventing biodiversity loss in the high seas. Adoption marks a successful end to more than a decade of multilateral work. The treaty will enter into force when 60 parties ratify it. The European Union has committed to support the treaty’s ratification and early implementation through the EU Global Ocean Programme of €40 million and has invited members of the High Ambition Coalition to do the same within their capabilities. “This is a major win for biodiversity – a game changer for the protection of the ocean and the sustainable use of its marine resources. The European Union and its member states are committed to signing and ratifying the BBNJ agreement as soon as possible. We urge others to do so too, as we hope the BBNJ Treaty will receive universal ratification and swiftly enter into force,” EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and
SPECIAL REPORT
Land-based aquaculture technology page 19
INSIGHT
n The EU wants the treaty ratified as soon as possible Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said. The treaty sets up a procedure to establish large-scale marine protected areas in the high seas, which will facilitate achieving the target of effectively conserving and managing 30% of land and sea by 2030. It also establishes the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, the transfer of marine technology between parties and contains rules to conduct environmental impact assessments. Global negotiations on the Treaty of the High Seas concluded in March 2023.
Benelux in troubled waters page 12
NEWBUILDS
PERU GIVES CRUCIAL SUPPORT TO ARTISANAL FISHERS Peruvian government has issued a historic decree to enable fisher registration by cooperatives in the mahi-mahi and jumbo flying squid fisheries – two of the most significant artisanal fisheries in the world. The decision removes the barriers for more than 900 mahi-mahi and squid artisanal vessels in major fisher organisations to be able to operate legally in Peruvian waters. Peru’s mahi-mahi fishery generates more than 40% of world production by volume. Jumbo flying squid is the world’s largest invertebrate fishery, and Peru’s squid fishery comprises nearly half of global landings. These fisheries experienced uncontrolled fleet growth between 2000 and 2015 due to lack of fisheries research, management and political will. The fisheries were left operating under inadequate, out-of-date laws.
High-tech Stødig reaches Norwegian owners page 17
AQUACULTURE
n Peru’s mahi-mahi fishery is responsible for over 40% of the total global volume
Optimising restorative production page 46