News – Ocean Equity Research

Who should pay to fish on the high seas?

Wordify Dev — Tue, 05 May 2026 02:16:57 +0000

Rethinking High Seas Allocation: Should Vessels Pay to Fish on the High Seas?

A new article by Kamal Azmi, Rachel Nichols, Erik van Doorn, Ruth Davis, Bianca Haas, Glen Holmes, Adam Ziyad, Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, and Quentin Hanich explores whether the current system for allocating access to high seas fisheries is fit for purpose.

Published in npj Ocean Sustainability, the article argues that the relative freedom to fish on the high seas can disadvantage developing coastal states that depend on the same fish stocks. The authors highlight how negotiations over high seas limits and allocation often prioritise access over sustainability, with significant implications for equity and long-term fisheries management.

The piece calls for a rethinking of high seas allocation frameworks to better balance sustainability, fairness, and the interests of developing coastal states, raising important questions about whether vessels should contribute financially for access to high seas fisheries.

Read the article to explore the future of equitable and sustainable high seas governance.

BBNJ & Management Procedures (Webinar)

Wordify Dev — Mon, 04 May 2026 03:06:00 +0000

As international attention increasingly turns toward the sustainable management of the high seas, management procedures (MPs), also known as harvest strategies, are emerging as an essential tool for transparent, science-based, and adaptive fisheries governance. By establishing pre-agreed rules for decision-making, MPs can help improve predictability, accountability, and long-term sustainability in fisheries management.

At the same time, the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is ushering in a new era of ocean governance beyond national waters. The Agreement introduces new opportunities and challenges for how marine biodiversity is conserved and how activities on the high seas are managed.

This webinar will explore the intersection between MPs and the BBNJ Agreement, examining how these frameworks can complement one another in advancing conservation and sustainable use objectives. Particular attention will be given to the role of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and their potential contribution to implementing ecosystem-based and precautionary approaches in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

During the webinar, Professor Quentin Hanich discusses the relationship between RFMO management procedures, equity, and sustainability, highlighting the importance of fair and inclusive governance in achieving long-term fisheries conservation outcomes.

Preparing for the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties for Ocean Biodiversity

Wordify Dev — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:43:34 +0000

Authors: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, Kristine Dalaker & Hussain Sinan

The UN General Assembly established the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) to prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-1), which is planned for January 11-22^nd, 2027.

Three sessions of the PrepCom were held between 2025 and 2026 at the UN headquarters in New York, with the third session coming to an end after intense two-week negotiations between March 26 – April 2^nd 2026 (PrepCom 3).

Passing on unbracketed text to the Conference of the Parties

Given the BBNJ Agreement’s swift entry into force in January 2026, the aim of PrepCom 3 was to prepare a final report that would include recommendations to be presented at COP-1 for consideration and adoption by the Parties. The recommendations include the PrepCom’s agreement on various documents that operationalize the BBNJ Agreement. Among the themes that were agreed with full convergence among delegations include:

the modalities for the selection of the seat of the Secretariat;
the relationship between the Secretariat and the UN;
the Voluntary Trust Fund;
the operationalisation of the Special Fund;
Memorandum of Understanding with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF);
the Clearing-House Mechanism;
cooperation with relevant instruments, frameworks, and bodies (IFBs); and
reporting requirements.

Regarding items 1 and 2 above, although modalities for the selection of the seat of the Secretariat were agreed, the draft decision regarding the relationship between the Secretariat and the UN reflects two options for consideration at COP-1. The first option is for the Secretariat to be institutionally linked to the UN while not being fully integrated into any particular work programme. The second option is for the Secretariat to enter into a relationship agreement with the UN.

Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed…?

While substantial progress was achieved on several documents, some issues remain in brackets and will require further negotiation at the upcoming COP-1 before final adoption. Among those topics will be discussions on financial rules and regulations, rules of procedure for the COP, as well as the terms of reference for the subsidiary bodies.

Rules of procedure for the COP

Further discussion on the rules of procedure (RoP) for the COP concerns matters regarding observer participation, including an objection procedure under Rule 6, and potential categorisation of observers (e.g., non-Parties, IGOs, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and local communities), the operationalisation of Article 18 of the BBNJ Agreement (Rule 39bis) regarding the area of application in the establishment of area-based management tools (ABMTs), quorum (attendance of Parties required to open a COP meeting), voting thresholds (for substantive and procedural matters), method for voting (secret ballot), and the voting threshold required to amend the RoP.

Terms of Reference and Modalities for Subsidiary Bodies

While ongoing discussions on the composition and selection of subsidiary bodies will be required, other issues were agreed, including number of members, observers, and confidentiality considerations.

Financial Rules and Regulations

Discussions on financial rules and regulations included the scope and the financial period, responsible entities to prepare the budget proposals, funds, contributions, auditing and accounts and administrative costs. Elements of the financial rules and regulations will require further negotiation at COP-1, as they are largely dependent on the Secretariat model that is chosen (either the first or second options) and the responsibilities of the Finance Committee.

ANCORS at PrepCom 3

A group of ANCORS staff and alumni was once again well-represented at PrepCom 3, with representatives on state, IGO and NGO delegations of China, Maldives, IOC-UNESCO, DOSI, and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.

Looking ahead

The PrepCom was an important preparatory step towards implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, as it develops processes for the operationalisation and functioning of the BBNJ Secretariat, the COP and its subsidiary bodies, as well as developments of the BBNJ Clearing-House Mechanism. In the coming months, intersessional meetings among States and other stakeholders will continue in the preparations towards COP-1 to be held at the UN headquarters in New York from January 11-22, 2027. It will mark an important step forward in international biodiversity governance with already 88 States who have ratified the BBNJ Agreement to date and others who have announced their likely ratification prior to COP-1.

For those interested in the BBNJ Agreement and its operationalisation through science, knowledge and data – a new IOC-UNESCO BBNJ e-learning course has been launched during PrepCom 3: Using science, knowledge and tools to operationalise the BBNJ Agreement.

The self-paced course introduces the BBNJ Agreement and focuses on the role that ocean science and knowledge play for its implementation, including implications for the global community and opportunities for science, services and management in and about ABNJ. The course aims to support individuals and institutions of diverse groups in understanding the scientific realities of the ocean and data sharing opportunities. The course is free of charge and open to everyone interested in the science and knowledge in support of the BBNJ Agreement, and it was designed primarily to support the ocean science community, including researchers, practitioners, technical staff, decision-makers, students, and other groups of society.

References

Draft texts prepared by the Co-Chairs which served as basis for negotiation:

Revised agenda of the Preparatory Commission (A/AC.296/2025/1/Rev.1)
Programme of work of the Preparatory Commission (A/AC.296/2025/2)
Rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Further revised aid to discussions and negotiations prepared by the Co-Chairs (A/AC.296/2026/1)
Financial rules governing the funding of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction and the funding of the secretariat and any subsidiary bodies: Further revised aid to discussions and negotiations prepared by the Co-Chairs (A/AC.296/2026/2)
Terms of reference and modalities for the operation of, and rules of procedure for, the subsidiary bodies, including the selection process for their members: Aid to discussions and negotiations prepared by the Co-Chairs (A/AC.296/2026/3)
Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies: Draft decision of the Conference of the Parties prepared by the Co-Chairs (A/AC.296/2026/4)
Operationalisation of other provisions on financial resources and mechanism under the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Aid to discussions and negotiations prepared by the Co-Chairs concerning the establishment of the voluntary trust fund as part of the financial mechanism (A/AC.296/2026/5)
Operationalisation of other provisions on financial resources and mechanism under the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Note by the Co-Chairs concerning a draft decision of the Conference of the Parties for the purpose of operationalising the special fund (A/AC.296/2026/6)
Arrangements with the Global Environment Facility to give effect to the relevant provisions on funding of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Further revised aid to discussions and negotiations prepared by the Co-Chairs (A/AC.296/2026/7)
Arrangements for the functioning of the secretariat, including its seat: Note by the Secretariat (A/AC.296/2026/8)

Other documents

Host country offers for the secretariat to be established under article 50 of the Agreement:
- Belgium (courtesy French version and courtesy translation into Spanish provided by Belgium are available on the French and Spanish pages of this webpage)
- Chile
- China (courtesy translations provided by China into the official languages of the United Nations are available on the respective language pages of this webpage)
Updated proposed organisation of work
Consolidated draft study on the technical aspects of the operationalization of the Clearing-House Mechanism under the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (Advance, unedited version; Appendix A) (presentation on the consolidated draft study delivered on 23 March 2026)
Information for participants (A/AC.296/2026/INF/1)

Read on:

ENB Reports on the 3rd PrepCom with daily highlights: https://enb.iisd.org/marine-biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-bbnj-cop-prepcom3

Episode 13 – Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology

Wordify Dev — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:59:24 +0000

Episode 13 - Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology

We hear from different “Ocean Voices” from Fellows of the Ocean Voices Program of the University of Edinburgh and dive deep into their different research and ocean equity aspects in the framework of the BBNJ Agreement.

Description

Episode 13 – Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology

What to expect in this episode:

A new Ocean Agreement has entered into force to conserve and sustainably use the ocean globally. Given the imbalance of scientific, technical and financial capacity across countries to use the world’s ocean, conduct marine scientific research in the deep sea and engage in maritime activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the new agreement seeks to change the status quo. With a dedicated part on Capacity building and the Transfer of Marine Technology, the imbalance is supposed to be addressed, and global implementation of the agreement’s objectives be facilitated.

What falls under Capacity building in the context of the BBNJ Agreement?
What is meant by the transfer of marine technology?
How is this part crucial for the implementation of the new treaty?

We hear from different “Ocean Voices” from Fellows of the Ocean Voices Program of the University of Edinburgh and dive deep into their different research and ocean equity aspects in the framework of the BBNJ Agreement.

Guests:

Harriet Harden-Davies

Julia Schuetz-Veiga*

Renee Lewinilovo

Benit Mbiakolo

Beatriz Naranjo Elizondo

Maila Guilhon

Hosts: ⁠Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki⁠ & ⁠Jennifer Macey⁠

Sound design and editing: ⁠⁠Emily Perkins⁠⁠

Communication: ⁠Sunnefa Yeatman⁠

For comments & feedback please contact: ⁠inatvw@uow.edu.au⁠

Find out more:

ANCORS Ocean Equity page ⁠https://oceanequityresearch.org/⁠

ANCORS at the University of Wollongong ⁠https://www.uow.edu.au/ancors/⁠

Ocean Voices Program: https://ocean-voices.ed.ac.uk/

You can find capacity building initiatives and technical assistance for the BBNJ process on the United Nations Website: https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en/capacity-building-and-technical-assistance/overview

Read on:

Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology

Etuk Johnson, A., Harden-Davies, H. (2025). Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology under the BBNJ Agreement: Key considerations for SIDS. Report for the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong. https://oceanequityresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Arianne-Etuk_Capacity-Building-and-Transfer-of-Marine-Technology-under-the-BBNJ-Agreement.pdf

Harden-Davies, H., Lopes, V.F., Coelho, L.F. et al. First to finish, what comes next? Putting Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology under the BBNJ Agreement into practice. npj Ocean Sustain 3, 3 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-023-00039-1

Tessnow-von Wysocki, I., Bateh, F., Gobin, J., Harden-Davies, H., Kyeremeh, K., & Schutz-Veiga, J. (2024). Next steps to implement the BBNJ Agreement through capacity building and technology transfer. Maripoldata. https://www.maripoldata.eu/next-steps-to-implement-the-bbnj-agreement-through-capacity-building-andtechnology-transfer/

Johannes, R. E. (1981). Words of the lagoon: fishingand marine lore in the Palau district of Micronesia. Univ of California Press.

Know more & Research of the Ocean Voices Fellows

Costa Rica Desconocida: https://costaricadesconocida.com/

Guilhon, M, Xavier, LY, von Pogrell, L, Singh, P,Christiansen, S & Turra, A 2023, ‘Ecosystem-based Management through thelenses of International Seabed Authority stakeholders: current status,implications, and opportunities for the deep-sea mining regime in theArea’, Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 10.

Naranjo-Elizondo, B & Cortés, J 2018, ‘Observations ofLitter Deposited in the Deep Waters of Isla del Coco National Park, EasternTropical Pacific’, Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 5.

Harden-Davies, Harriet, and Júlia Schütz Veiga, ‘PartV: Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology’, in Joanna Mossop, and David Freestone (eds), The Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Commentary and Analysis (2025; online edn, Oxford Law , https://doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198918578.003.0008,

Meet Renee Lewenilovo

Meet Benit Mbiakolo

* Julia Schuetz-Veiga is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Ocean Voices Program

This was the last episode on our Series 1 audio episodes.

Stay tuned for an upcoming video podcast series in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen and 3Bio on the topic of Marine Genetic Resources and the BBNJ Agreement.

The 22nd Meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:50:51 +0000

Authors: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, Rachel Nichols, Quentin Hanich

The Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) attended the 22^nd annual meeting of one of the biggest Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) – the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) – in Manila, Philippines.

The WCPFC and other RFMOs are coming to grips with the recently concluded Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). RFMOs and the BBNJ Agreement both have a mandate for biodiversity in the high seas and details of cooperation and coordination mechanisms for implementation are currently being developed. ANCORS co-hosted a side event on BBNJ and its interaction with the WCPFC on December 1^st, 2025.

Conservation and Management

The WCPFC had a full agenda, prioritising negotiations on the management of South Pacific albacore. The WCPFC took a major step forward in the sustainable management of its key stocks with the adoption of a FFA proposal for a management procedure for South Pacific albacore (SPA). Debate through the week illustrated the challenge of balancing short-term impacts on some distant water fishing fleets with long-term benefits for the economic and biological sustainability of the entire fishery. After extensive negotiations, the WPCFC adopted a compromise management procedure that provided a balance to which all members could agree.

The Commission also made progress on bycatch (including some incremental improvements on the mitigation of seabird bycatch following years of negotiation), voluntary guides on high seas boarding and inspection, and on the Commission’s efforts to support the special requirements of developing states.

All of these decisions reflect the incremental change that is typical of consensus-based decision making. In 2026, the WCPFC will aim to adopt an implementing measure for the SPA management procedure and a management procedure for bigeye tuna.

BBNJ Panel at WCPFC 22

The BBNJ Agreement is a legally binding treaty to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. It aims to balance protection of the marine environment and ensuring sustainable use, through four main pillars: ensuring the fair and equitable access to and use of marine genetic resources (MGRs); the establishment of area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs); the conduct of environmental impact assessments (EIAs); and capacity building the transfer of marine technology (CBTMT). RFMOs, on the other hand, are charged with ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable used of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks throughout their range, including the high seas. But they also have extensive responsibilities to protect marine biodiversity, including non-target species.

The BBNJ agreement has now been ratified by 75 States (as of 15 October 2025) and will enter into force on 17th January 2026. The first Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting will be held within the first year of entry into force. With this in mind, ANCORS and the Australian Government organised a side-event discussion at the WCPFC. The side-event included presentations on the new treaty by Dr Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki (ANCORS) and Mat Kertesz (head of the Australian delegation), followed by an open discussion with a panel of experts from government and non-government institutions. Panellists included Jung-re Riley Kim (Korea), Laurence Edwards (Republic of the Marshall Islands), Rhea Moss-Christian (WCPFC Secretariat) and Glen Holmes (Pew). WCPFC members posed several thoughtful questions on issues regarding considerations of internal cooperation of ministries at the national level and practical implementation of new biodiversity measures among BBNJ and RFMOs. The topic of BBNJ was again taken up in the plenary session of the formal meeting under the agenda item “cooperation with other organisations”, where the Secretariat outlined the BBNJ agreement contents and implications for WCPFC, followed by State and non-state interventions. An overall cooperative spirit could be seen, with interest in what the BBNJ agreement entails and how it will facilitate cooperation with and among other instruments, frameworks and bodies.

For background, Dr Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki and Dr Bianca Haas submitted an ANCORS observer paper to WCPFC22 on the links between the WCPFC and the new BBNJ Agreement. ANCORS also recorded a number of episodes on the BBNJ Agreement and fisheries as part of its Negotiating the Ocean podcast series.

WCPFC and the new BBNJ Agreement: Join Us for a Lunchtime Side-Event at WCPFC22

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 04:48:31 +0000

The Australian delegation to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), together with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), is pleased to host a lunchtime discussion on the new Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and its connections with tuna fisheries governance in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

Monday, 1 December 2025
12:45pm

As the BBNJ Agreement races toward entry into force in January 2026, WCPFC members are entering a crucial period for shaping how this global ocean treaty will interact with regional fisheries management.

Adopted in June 2023 under UNCLOS, the BBNJ Agreement is the first comprehensive framework dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. With 75 ratifications (as of 24 November 2025), the treaty will enter into force on 17 January 2026. The final Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) meeting ahead of COP1 is scheduled for March 2026.

This side-event will:

Explore the BBNJ Agreement and its linkages with WCPFC
Feature insights from government and non-government experts
Invite questions and discussion from all WCPFC participants

ANCORS has also produced an information paper to support conversations at WCPFC22 — summarised below — and has released podcast episodes via the Negotiating the Ocean series on Spotify.

Information Paper Highlights

The WCPFC and the BBNJ Agreement

This paper outlines how the four BBNJ pillars intersect with WCPFC responsibilities:

Marine Genetic Resources — Fishing is excluded, except where catch is used for genetic R&D, triggering BBNJ data-sharing obligations.
ABMTs / MPAs — Direct relevance for spatial management in areas beyond national jurisdiction. WCPFC expertise will be critical in scientific input, proposal consultations, and implementation.
Environmental Impact Assessments — New transparency, notification, and monitoring requirements for activities in new regions, depths, or targeting new species.
Capacity Building & Technology Transfer — Future opportunities to strengthen monitoring, scientific capability, and data systems across the Western Central Pacific Ocean.

Most importantly, BBNJ embeds cooperation and coordination with existing bodies — including RFMOs — ensuring efforts complement rather than conflict. Early engagement by WCPFC members will help shape an approach that fits Pacific priorities.

Link to document: https://meetings.wcpfc.int/node/28298

Looking Ahead

The imminent entry into force of BBNJ marks a major moment for ocean governance. WCPFC plays a central role in managing tuna and ecosystem health in ABNJ, and now has the opportunity to help shape how the new global framework works in practice.

We hope you can join us for this timely discussion.

Lunchtime Side-Event — Monday 1 December, 12:45pm
We look forward to seeing you there!

Highlights from the 2025 Shanghai Pacific Fisheries Symposium (8-10 October)

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:20:07 +0000

In an era of rapid ocean change, effective management of Pacific tuna fisheries depends on robust science, informed policy, and genuine international collaboration. From 8–10 October 2025, more than forty researchers, scientists, and policy experts gathered in Shanghai for the second Shanghai Pacific Fisheries Symposium, a meeting aimed at strengthening the science-policy interface in Pacific fisheries.

The symposium, co-hosted by Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU), the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS). Over three days, participants shared new research, discussed pressing challenges, and identified opportunities to deepen scientific cooperation and policy collaboration across the Pacific region.

Held at the Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel, with a tour of SHOU’s state-of-the-art facilities—including its fisheries museum, research laboratories, fishing technology tanks, and training centres—the event showcased the university’s commitment to marine science and its growing leadership in Pacific fisheries research.

Representatives came from across the region, including SHOU, SPC, ANCORS, Solomon Islands National University (SINU), the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA), the Vanuatu Fisheries Department, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). Together, they explored how advancing fisheries science can inform equitable and sustainable governance of the Pacific’s most valuable shared resource—its tuna stocks.

Opening the symposium, Professor Luo Yi, Vice President of Shanghai Ocean University, welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between the Pacific and China. This theme of cooperation was echoed in the keynote address by Dr Transform Aqorau, Vice-Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University and one of the Pacific’s leading fisheries policy voices. In his address, “From the Pacific to the World: Navigating Global Policy Currents in the Governance of Tuna Fisheries in Pacific Island States,” Dr Aqorau highlighted the region’s influence on global fisheries policy.

Theme 1: Biological and Ecological Studies of Pacific Tunas

The symposium’s first thematic session, chaired by Professor Fan Zhang (SHOU), focused on advancing understanding of tuna biology and ecology. These studies are critical for refining stock assessments and predicting how tuna populations respond to environmental variability and climate change.

Presentations explored topics such as the mechanisms of El Niño effects on skipjack tuna population dynamics (Qinqin Lin, SHOU), population structure of South Pacific albacore associated with distinct spawning habitats (Dongqi Lu, SHOU), and how spatial-temporal fishing strategies influence catch composition in FAD-associated purse seine fisheries (Cheng Zhou, SHOU).

Discussions also addressed the improving quality of AIS data (Xin Cheng, SHOU), the relationship between fleet size and catch productivity (Hongyu Lin, SHOU), and carbon emission assessments in Chinese longline vessels (Xiaoci Wu, SHOU). The session concluded with an analysis by Dr Joe Scutt Phillips (SPC) on how heterogeneous ocean environments shape biological parameters in Pacific tunas.

Collectively, these studies showed the growing integration of ecological modelling, technological innovation, and environmental monitoring in fisheries science. As Pacific tuna species experience shifting distributions and changing productivity patterns, this body of research will be essential to adapt fisheries management approaches.

Theme 2: Stock Assessment and Management Strategy Evaluation

The second session, chaired by Dr Graham Pilling (SPC), turned to the quantitative side of fisheries science: stock assessment and management strategy evaluation (MSE). With growing data complexity and ecological uncertainty, developing reliable models for tuna population dynamics and management performance remains a cornerstone of fisheries governance.

Presentations by scientists from SHOU and the IATTC showcased recent innovations in modelling approaches. Haikun Xu (IATTC) presented on “Joint Modelling of Multiple Longline Fleets to Improve Indices of Abundance for Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean”, while Shiyu Yang (SHOU) discussed environmental drivers of catchability using advanced statistical models such as VAST and sdmTMB. Rujia Bi (IATTC) highlighted the potential of integrating CPUE and length composition data across gear types using spatiotemporal frameworks, offering new ways to improve data standardization and reduce uncertainty.

From the policy side, Yanan Li (SHOU) evaluated the effectiveness of catch limits for longline fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific, while Dr Carolina Minte-Vera (IATTC) examined the role of conceptual models in improving assessment transparency and communication.

Closing the session, Dr Graham Pilling (SPC) addressed the perennial challenge of uncertainty—from assessments to harvest strategies—while Nan Yao (SPC) tested whether CPUE projections are realistic through hindcasting analyses. The session concluded with Robert Scott (SPC) presenting on the critical task of incorporating climate change impacts into harvest strategies to ensure resilience under changing ocean conditions.

Together, these presentations showed how modern fisheries science is evolving to meet new challenges—integrating environmental data, improving modelling techniques, and developing adaptive management tools that can respond to ecological and climatic variability.

Theme 3: Global Policy Drivers for Pacific Tuna Fisheries

The symposium’s final session, chaired by Professor Quentin Hanich (ANCORS), brought science and policy together, examining how global governance, environmental change, and social equity intersect in Pacific tuna fisheries.

Dr Xiaolin Chu (SHOU) opened with an overview of China’s evolving approach to managing its pelagic tuna fisheries, highlighting challenges and pathways toward sustainable reform. Dr Johann Bell (ANCORS) followed with a presentation on the nutritional benefits of increasing tuna access for Pacific Island food systems, linking fisheries policy to human health and food security. Building on this, Dr Kate Barclay (UTS) discussed the socioeconomic monitoring of tuna industry development benefits, while Max Gillespie (FFA) presented a regional analysis of the economic impacts of climate change on Pacific tuna fisheries. Dr Kamal Azmi (ANCORS) proposed that transferable fishing rights could offer a robust response to climate-induced shifts in tuna distribution.

Several presentations examined broader governance issues. Yuru He (SHOU) analysed the potential catalytic effect of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Advisory Opinion on decarbonising high seas fisheries, while Sunnefa Yeatman Omarsdottir (ANCORS) introduced a perspective on reducing underwater noise pollution through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

Bianca Haas (ANCORS) addressed the persistent challenge of crew welfare and labour conditions in industrial fisheries, and Prof. Hanich concluded the session with an exploration of the evolution of allocation mechanisms in transboundary fisheries—from theoretical economics to pragmatic governance solutions.

This rich and diverse discussion underscored that Pacific tuna fisheries governance is not just a scientific or economic issue—it is a matter of social equity, climate resilience, and global environmental justice.

From Symposium to Scientific Synthesis

The 2025 Shanghai Pacific Fisheries Symposium concluded with a forward-looking commitment: to translate these discussions into tangible outputs that inform both science and policy.

Participants agreed to prepare a special issue in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, co-edited by Prof. Fan Zhang (SHOU), Dr Graham Pilling (SPC), and Prof. Quentin Hanich (ANCORS). The publication will consolidate key research findings from the symposium and aims to be distributed at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 2026 meeting, providing valuable insights to decision-makers and stakeholders across the region.

Looking ahead, SHOU, SPC, and ANCORS plan to build on this growing partnership by convening a third symposium in late 2026, strengthening scientific cooperation and dialogue between China and the Pacific.

A Model for Collaborative Ocean Governance

The Shanghai Pacific Fisheries Symposium series represents more than an academic gathering, through linking leading institutions in Asia and the Pacific, the symposium promotes shared responsibility for the use of marine resources. As global ocean governance faces unprecedented challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inequality and technological disruption—these networks of collaboration are vital. They ensure that the best available science informs policy, that Pacific voices remain central to global discussions, and that the next generation of scientists and policy makers are equipped to navigate the intersection of environment, economy, and equity.

About the Organisers

Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) – A leading Chinese university in marine and fisheries sciences, with growing partnerships across the Pacific.
The Pacific Community (SPC) – The region’s principal scientific and technical organisation, supporting sustainable development across Pacific Island countries and territories.
ANCORS, University of Wollongong – Australia’s premier academic centre for ocean governance, law of the sea, and maritime policy.

Together, these institutions are shaping a future where scientific collaboration underpins equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient fisheries management across the Pacific.

How will the new Deep-Sea Treaty join the existing Ocean governance framework?

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:08:27 +0000

By Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki & Hussain Sinan

The new treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) has reached the necessary threshold for ratifications and will enter into force on January 17^th 2026. On the way towards entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, the Preparatory Commission met for the second time at the UN headquarters in New York between 18-29 August, 2025.

This time, one of the items on the agenda was the topic of cooperation and coordination with other existing instruments in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The meeting gathered several organisations with mandates in areas beyond national jurisdiction which contributed with best practice examples and lessons learnt. ANCORS researchers and alumni attended the meetings on delegations of state, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and have been involved in side events on Cooperation and coordination between BBNJ and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

An ocean of “instruments, frameworks and bodies” (IFBs)

One key objective of the BBNJ Agreement is to strengthen cooperation and coordination with and among other instruments, frameworks and bodies – or short IFBs – which have mandates in areas beyond national jurisdiction. This offers an opportunity for BBNJ to act as a catalyst for cooperation and coordination.

One can imagine the challenges of this task to coordinate the currently quite fragmented framework of different bodies that have mandate over certain areas of the ocean and govern different sectors, such as fishing, shipping or mining. But while the diversity of IFBs make such coordination complex, it also offers many best practices and lessons learnt, ranging from data collection and deep-sea knowledge to the identification of areas in need of protection and their monitoring and enforcement, the set-up of databases and experience with cross-sectoral governance. This creates an opportunity for the BBNJ to not only draw on these practices but also to adapt, integrate, and champion them across the global ocean governance landscape.

The second Preparatory Commission Meeting discussed the topic of cooperation and coordination in the first week on Wednesday and Thursday and continued on Thursday of week 2. Different levels of interaction were discussed, including from the side of the Secretariat, the Conference of the Parties, various subsidiary bodies and the responsibility of State Parties. While delegates generally supported maintaining flexibility in modalities for interaction between BBNJ and other IFBs, some concrete ideas already circulated in the room which may vary depending on the organisation at hand:

- The need for formal arrangements – like Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), but also informal arrangements
- Annual review meetings between the Secretariat of BBNJ and the Secretariats of the IFBs
- Continuous and ad-hoc arrangements
- Mutual participation at meetings of the BBNJ COP and IFBs
- Possible interactions of the subsidiary bodies of BBNJ with IFBs and their institutions, e.g. their scientific advisory bodies
- The linking of databases
- And exchanging experiences and data

Many organisations with experience in ABNJ responded to the call of the United Nations Division on the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) to submit inputs regarding their mandates for cooperation with other bodies and established cooperative arrangements, attended the discussions, contributed with best practice examples and lessons learnt through interventions in the plenary and side events, including: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, and OSPAR – just to name a few.

Overall, we could see great interest by IFBs in shaping the PrepCom through participation, interventions in the plenary, and side events – and the recognition by States to integrate IFBs in the process.

Getting ready for cooperation at Prepcom2

Several Side events in the margins of the PrepCom meeting were co-organised on the topic of cooperation and coordination by current and former ANCORS affiliates.

On Monday, 25^th August, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, New Zealand, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission invited to the side event: Fisheries and the BBNJ Agreement. The event brought together fisheries experts from national, regional, and global levels to examine the implications of the BBNJ Agreement for fisheries and to discuss how fisheries considerations can be integrated into its implementation. Participants also explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the BBNJ Agreement and fisheries bodies.

FAO presented its ongoing work and outlined mechanisms within the organisation to enhance coordination among international fisheries bodies (IFBs). Ms. Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director of the WCPFC, emphasised that tuna RFMOs and the BBNJ Agreement share the goal of conserving and sustainably using biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). She highlighted that tuna RFMOs operate under long-standing, binding mandates for high seas fisheries, supported by monitoring systems and strong scientific expertise, and stressed that future cooperation must be structured, legally coherent, practical, and science-based.

Mr. Adam Berry, Chair of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), pointed to existing mechanisms within COFI that facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among organisations. Dr. Sinan from the Maldives underlined the deep connectivity between the ocean and small island developing states (SIDS), stressing the importance of designing effective cooperation mechanisms. Finally, Mr. Ivan Lopez, Chair of the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations, underscored the need for IFBs to be actively involved, particularly in the establishment of area-based management tools (ABMTs).

A second side event ‘Cooperation with Regional Fisheries Management Organisations: getting “BBNJ-ready”’ was co-organised by the Maldives, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the High Seas Alliance, Oceans North, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and the University of Wollongong (Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security) (Tuesday, 26 August 2025).

The side event gathered different RFMO secretariats, namely the IOTC and NAFO, as well as the FAO and presentations by representatives of state, NGO and academia. The panel included insights into IOTC’s progress on BBNJ coordination: current work, plans, and challenges, presented by Dr. Paul De Bruyn (IOTC), NAFO’s perspective on collaboration with the BBNJ Agreement, presented by Brynhildur Benediktsdóttir, the role RFMOs will play in implementing the BBNJ Agreement, and how the FAO will support and guide this process, presented by Alice McDonald and Initial recommendations and perspectives on BBNJ–RFMO cooperation from a civil society standpoint by Nichola Clark from the PEW charitable trusts. Dr. Hussain Sinan, ANCORS alumni and representative of the Maldives in BBNJ and IOTC negotiations presented on the Maldives proposal at the past IOTC meeting which enabled IOTC observer status in BBNJ meetings and constitutes an important pillar of interactions between BBNJ and RFMOs. “Maldives’ BBNJ-readiness proposal at IOTC: background and next steps”.

Dr. Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki, postdoctoral research fellow presented ANCORS work on a “BBNJ-RFMO engagement research”, led by Dr. Bianca Haas. Different ways of engagements between BBNJ and RFMOs were identified, including Membership overlap, geographic considerations, BBNJ discussions in the RFMO meetings and involvement with BBNJ and IFBs.

Towards entry into force

On September 19^th, 2025, the threshold of 60 ratifications was reached for the Agreement to enter into force. As outlined in the agreement, entry into force happens 120 days after such threshold is met, which makes the 17^th of January the official “birth date” of the BBNJ agreement. This significant milestone marks the beginning of implementation phase of the BBNJ Agreement. While this does not come unexpectedly, yet, it is speeding up the process of the intersessional period and the preparatory commission meetings. Quite some issues remain to be agreed upon, including the decision on the location of the seat of the Secretariat, who and how many members to serve on the various subsidiary bodies and how to operationalise the Clearinghouse Mechanism. With entry into force, the Agreement becomes legally binding to all States who have ratified – which also means, if research cruises under BBNJ Parties are planned in areas beyond national jurisdiction and marine genetic resources are collected, such information needs to be shared via this centralised platform which is still under development. This Intersessional Period and the upcoming Third PrepCom in March 2026 are vital to finalise the most urgent technicalities for the new instrument to run smoothly. Busy months ahead for the Secretariat and the co-chairs, as well as the member States to finalise preparations – but also for those countries who have yet to ratify the Agreement and to be able to participate as BBNJ Parties in the first Conference of the Parties meeting, which will be held no longer than one year after entry into force.

Making waves at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:32:15 +0000

By Bianca Haas, Eric van Doorn, and Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki

Between the 9 – 13 of June 2025, the ocean community went on a pilgrimage to the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), co-organised by Costa Rica and France, in Nice, France. This conference aimed to bring together all actors to accelerate actions to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. Among those thousands of participants were ANCORS researchers, Anais Remont, Bianca Haas, Dominique Benzaken, Erik van Doorn, and Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki. Besides current researchers, ANCORS was well represented through numerous ANCORS alumni (see, for example, below). Overall, this conference allowed actors from all across the world to reconnect or form new partnerships, which will hopefully result in actions to protect our ocean.

ANCORS researchers actively contributed to side events during UNOC. Below you will find a brief overview of these engagements.

Planetary boundaries

Dr Erik van Doorn co-organised a session in the European Digital Ocean Pavilion about the increased importance of the ocean in the planetary boundary’s framework. Together with Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb from the University of Melbourne, his presentation focused on the links of the framework with multilateral environmental agreements. To keep the Earth liveable for current and future generations, scientists proposed the idea of planetary boundaries. They identified nine processes of the Earth system for which they quantified a boundary, some of which have a clear marine component. Staying within these nine planetary boundaries would assure ‘a safe operating space for humanity’. Of the nine process, stratospheric ozone depletion and atmospheric loading currently lack an obvious connection with marine governance. This is very different for climate change and acidification of the ocean. Change in land use, freshwater use, biogeochemical flows and novel entities all have a terrestrial component. Most of the marine pollution comes from land, however, but the international marine governance of land-based pollution is relatively weak. Plastics comprise a category of novel entities, one that is not yet subject to a specific global regime as such but will be soon. Plastics can also contribute to climate change as a process, establishing a link between the planetary boundaries for novel entities and climate change. There now exist legal bases for the conservation of marine biosphere integrity now both within as well as beyond national jurisdiction. The session attracted an in-person audience of around fifty people and more than 400 hundred on-line.

Science for the implementation of the new Ocean Treaty

Dr Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki was invited to a roundtable to speak about the role of science for the implementation of the new ocean treaty, alongside other experts on the Agreement for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), including Prof. Lisa Levin from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Angelique Pouponneau, the lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States in the BBNJ process, Prof. Alice Vadrot, political scientist at the University of Vienna and Prof. Murray Roberts from the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki pointed to the diversity of science and existing inequalities between the Global North and the Global South, which the BBNJ agreement will need to address and highlighted the value of cooperation in data collection and sharing among different organisations in areas beyond national jurisdiction. While science is crucial for the implementation of the new Ocean Treaty, yet, the areas of the ocean that are chosen to explore, the methods that are used, and the research questions asked differ across the world. Currently, there is a bias towards science from the Global North. There is a need to reflect on these realities in the implementation of the new agreement and when designing the new Scientific and Technical Body. The new Treaty is an opportunity to create a more inclusive knowledge base for ocean governance. Other frameworks and bodies, providing satellite, environmental, or bycatch data and information about human activities, can support the new treaty and offer an opportunity for scientific collaborations. The round table was hosted by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance, and the University of Bergen.

Human Rights at Sea

Dr Bianca Haas was invited by CEDMAR, the Centre for Studies on the Law of the Sea at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, to talk about the role of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) in supporting human rights. Alongside leading experts on human rights at sea, this event aimed to raise awareness of the importance of human rights at sea and the need to develop a more integrated approach that includes human rights across different human activities. To support this call for integration, the organisers developed the Nice Declaration on Human Rights at Sea that aims to achieve universal participation and engagement through 22 principles.

Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and the High Seas Treaty

ANCORS also co-organised an event on multi-stakeholder cooperation for the high seas at the Beyond Borders Pavilion. This event was led by the High Seas Alliance, Pew Charitable Trusts, Sargasso Sea Commission, and the Tara Ocean Foundation, showcasing the voices and roles of different sectors and communities governing areas beyond national jurisdiction to ensure a more harmonious coordination and cooperation. ANCORS and the Pew Charitable Trust organised a segment, focusing on the role of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) in supporting the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement. Nichola Clark from the Pew Charitable Trust, Bronwen Golder from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, and Hussain Sinan from the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Maldives, talked about the challenges and opportunities for RFMOs under the BBNJ Agreement, what needs to be done to make RFMOs “BBNJ-ready” and BBNJ “RFMO-ready”, and how RFMOs and BBNJ can complement each other.

Conclusion

UNOC 3 is celebrated as a great success with a boost in commitments to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. It provided a fantastic opportunity to meet and share ideas with experts from around the world. Moving forward, we hope that these commitments are not only hollow words, but that we see real actions.

Strengthening Cooperation and Management of Unregulated Fisheries

Sunnefa Yeatman Ómarsdóttir — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 01:25:11 +0000

In February 2025, the Korean Maritime Institute (KMI) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) brought together officials, stakeholders, and experts for an informal workshop on one of the most challenging issues in global fisheries governance: how to manage fishing on the high seas where no Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) exists.

Often referred to as “unregulated” fisheries, these are not necessarily illegal—but they do raise sustainability concerns. Without international agreements or coordinated oversight, it becomes nearly impossible to assess the health of fish stocks or manage fishing effort sustainably. The lack of monitoring and reporting also poses risks to the long-term viability of the fisheries and may create tensions between fishing nations and adjacent coastal States.

The workshop focused on identifying practical, cooperative steps to enhance transparency and sustainability in these areas. Discussions centred around three key priorities:

fostering science and data-led collaboration,
ensuring sustainability, and
Stimulating trust and engagement among States and industry.

Participants agreed that science should lead the way. The absence of comprehensive data makes effective management difficult, and no single country can gather all the information needed. Collaborative scientific efforts—such as shared data collection and joint stock assessments—were seen as a low-risk, high-value starting point. One promising case identified for such cooperation was the squid fishery in FAO Area 41 of the South Atlantic.

Second, the group underlined that sustainability—not just regulation—should be the ultimate goal. By improving reporting and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in an integrated way, stakeholders can make meaningful progress toward sustainable, long-term management of high seas resources.

Finally, the workshop recognised the need to build trust and incentivise engagement. Participants noted that both government and industry actors often lack motivation to participate in voluntary governance frameworks. Market-based incentives, greater transparency, and open dialogue were identified as tools to change that. They also saw potential in engaging with new forums like the FAO Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management and learning from past cooperative models—such as the Standing Committee on Tuna and Billfish (SCTB), which laid the scientific groundwork for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

Rather than proposing new legal frameworks or institutions, the workshop emphasised a step-by-step approach to cooperation—grounded in science, trust, and mutual interest. As global fisheries face increasing pressure, these kinds of informal, inclusive discussions may offer a realistic and constructive way forward.