Fisheries management meetings from France to Japan highlight the importance of integrating science in decision-making

For the #OceanLifelines campaign team, the past two months have included attendance at two key meetings of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) – the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) Commission meeting and the scientific committee meeting for the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA). 

We attended both meetings as official Observers, highlighting the necessity for the protection of seamounts from bottom trawling; sharing the latest, best available science; and pushing for decisive action to deliver on twenty years of international commitments to halt the destruction of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). 

Seamounts and other VMEs are fragile ecosystems found in the deep sea, including coral gardens and sponge fields that can take centuries to recover once damaged. These features and habitats are particularly vulnerable to destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling, which scrapes the seafloor and destroys everything in its path. International agreements and scientific resolutions have called for the protection of these ecosystems, especially in areas where their presence is known or likely. RFMOs – including SIOFA and NPFC have a responsibility to put these commitments into action.

Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, Scientific Committee Meeting

In March, the SIOFA Scientific Committee held its 10th annual meeting – a key moment in the regional calendar for ocean conservation. SIOFA is responsible for managing fishing activities in the Southern Indian Ocean – an area home to rich marine life including seamounts, cold-water corals, and hydrothermal vents. The Scientific Committee plays a critical role in decisions taken by SIOFA, providing expert advice to the Meeting of the Parties – SIOFA’s primary decision-making body – on how to manage these resources responsibly.

This year’s meeting brought together representatives from Member States: Australia, China, the Cook Islands, the European Union, France (on behalf of its Indian Ocean Territories), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.

The agenda was wide-ranging, covering topics such as the health of fish populations (stock assessments); incidental catch of non-target species (bycatch); climate change impacts on marine life; and protection for VMEs.

There were some encouraging developments aligned with the DSCC’s secondary priorities, including: 

• The Scientific Committee recommended the designation of 12 new benthic protected areas, closing them to bottom fishing due to the presence of unique habitats and vulnerable species.
• There was forward movement on a marine protected area protocol, a tool that could help safeguard biodiversity hotspots across the region.
• Efforts to reduce shark bycatch and address the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems were discussed, both of which are important issues for long-term fisheries sustainability.

Unfortunately, there was no progress on the DSCC’s top priority: meaningful protection for seamounts and other VMEs from destructive fishing practices. Despite the importance of this issue, no papers were submitted by Members on how to prevent significant adverse impacts on these sensitive habitats. This is especially disappointing given that VME protection had been listed as a “focus topic” for the upcoming 2025 meeting. 

While this year’s meeting fell short of expectations on the protection of seamounts and other VMEs, there’s still a chance to push for real progress in 2026. The DSCC is now working to develop a proactive strategy that includes early engagement with Members, submission of expert papers, and clear communication of the urgent need to prioritise and fund VME safeguards.

North Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting

Members of the NPFC – ​​Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Chinese Taipei, the United States of America, and Vanuatu – came together at the 9th meeting of the Commission in Osaka, Japan which resulted in some promising outcomes for the campaign’s progress.

Notably, the Commission adopted a recommendation from the Scientific Committee (SC) that relevant NPFC member countries update or conduct new environmental impact assessments of deep-sea bottom fisheries on the Emperor Seamount Chain and Northwest Hawaiian Ridge in time for review by the Scientific Committee’s meeting in December 2026. This applies primarily to Japan, Russia and Korea – the only three countries that have been bottom fishing in this area over the past decade, with Japan being the only NPFC member that continues to do so. The initial impact assessments undertaken in 2008 by Japan, Russia and Korea have not been updated to reflect the latest scientific information or enhanced calls for action by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) since then to protect deep-sea ecosystems from the impact of bottom fishing. 

In his opening remarks, the Chair of the Commission, Shingo Ota, mentioned challenges related to “questions about vulnerable marine ecosystem protection” and that the NPFC must be proactive on biodiversity protection to “avoid the intervention of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”. He reiterated this in his closing remarks. 

Protecting seamounts and other VMEs featured prominently in the debate during the NPFC meeting. There is new momentum on the issue and the agreement on new impact assessments provides an opportunity to challenge assertions made by some NPFC members that they are already implementing international commitments to protect seamounts from damage. 

With a number of smaller meetings scheduled to take place before the next Scientific Committee meeting in late 2025, the DSCC will use these opportunities to highlight the need to integrate the best available science in the protection of  seamounts, including consideration of ocean/climate resilience commitments and obligations, and the identification of VMEs and  associated and dependent species along the Emperor Seamount Chain.

Opportunities for progress

While both SIOFA and NPFC have taken some encouraging steps, neither has yet delivered the strong, science-based decisions needed to fully protect seamounts from destructive fishing practices. 

As momentum builds ahead of the 2026 UNGA workshop to review the resolution to protect the deep from harmful impacts of bottom trawl fisheries, the best available science must be guiding RFMO decision-making.