Sustainability of Deep Sea Fisheries

Project Overview:
Elliott Norse (Marine Conservation Institute, WA, USA)
Deep-sea fisheries exist throughout the oceans, but fish at these depths have characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to commercial fishing. A group of scientists analyzed data on deep-sea fish populations and biology, along with economic drivers and international regulation, and concluded that most deep-sea fisheries are unsustainable, especially on the high seas.
Video and Images:
Elliott Norse speaks about deep-sea fisheries
Elliott Norse speaks about deep-sea fisheries
Australia Network News
Image
Orange roughy, Claire Nouvian

Orange roughy, Claire Nouvian

Yellow sea fan, NOAA DeepCAST I Expedition

Yellow sea fan, NOAA DeepCAST I Expedition

Soft coral, NOAA

Soft coral, NOAA

Large trawler, Anilocra

Large trawler, Anilocra

Orange roughy, Claire Nouvian
Summary Materials:
application/pdf iconSummary of 2012 Marine Policy paper
August, 2011
application/pdf iconDeep sea graphic
August, 2011
Publications and Reports:
Published Papers

Norse, E.A., S. Brooke, W.W.L. Cheung, M.R. Clark, et al. 2011. Sustainability of deep-sea fisheries. Marine Policy 36(2): 307-320.

Marine Policy paper (subscription needed)
March, 2012

Sumaila, U. R., A. Khan, et al. 2010. Subsidies to high seas bottom trawl fleets and the sustainability of deep-sea demersal fish stocks. Marine Policy 34(3): 495-497.

Marine Policy paper (subscription needed)
May, 2010

Baker, K. D., J. A. Devine, et al. 2009. Deep-sea fishes in Canada's Atlantic: population declines and predicted recovery times. Environmental Biology of Fishes 85(1): 79-88.

Environmental Biology of Fishes paper (subscription needed)
May, 2009

Bailey, D. M., M. A. Collins, et al. 2009. Long-term changes in deep-water fish populations in the northeast Atlantic: a deeper reaching effect of fisheries? Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 276(1664): 1965-1969.

Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences paper
March, 2009

Davies, A. J., M. Wisshak, et al. 2008. Predicting suitable habitat for the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa (Scleractinia). Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers 55(8): 1048-1062.

Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers paper (subscription needed)
August, 2008
Media:
Press Releases
Deep-sea fish in deep trouble
Lenfest in the News
Washington Post article
Huffington Post article
Globe and Mail article