Marine research as a basis to adopt measures to prevent the impacts of bottom fishing on VMEs in the high-seas: the experience of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography

Marine research - particularly traditional groundfish surveys and new multidisciplinary seabed mapping programmes – is necessary to put into practice the UNGA resolutions 66/72 & 66/68 regarding the “Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem”. Fishing Nations are making efforts to develop and improve both types of research and to integrate their results into the high-seas fisheries management processes. The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and their advisory scientific bodies are essential instruments in such processes. The scientific data collected has improved our knowledge of high-seas Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and has led to the proposal and implementation of protection measures to prevent the impacts of bottom fishing in areas beyond national jurisdictions. This talk presents the recent experience of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) in the research of VMEs and the impacts of bottom fishing in the high-seas (Atlantic Ocean).IEO, SGP, U