“We cannot manage what we cannot see. And when transparency increases, accountability follows.” The ocean supports global food systems and livelihoods. As #SPRFMO meets in Panama, Michele Kuruc highlights why vessel ownership transparency matters.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4rL7E25

In Panama, Global Fishing Watch calls for vessel ownership transparency Global Fishing Watch urges SPRFMO members in Panama to boost vessel ownership transparency and tracking to combat illegal fishing.

Hidden ownership enables illegal fishing. Greater transparency can help bring it to light.

As #SPRFMO meets in Panama, Global Fishing Watch calls for stronger vessel ownership disclosure, expanded AIS use and more accessible data to strengthen accountability at sea.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4rL7E25

Hello from Welington!

As the international body for managing high seas fisheries meet in the capital, we are sending a clear message:

Stop Bottom Trawling. 🌊

#ProtectTheOcean #BanBottomTrawling #oceans #SPRFMO

The world must act now to safeguard the Pacific’s last wild frontiers As the High Seas Treaty stalls, an opportunity to protect one of the Pacific’s most fragile ecosystems is emerging, writes Felipe Paredes of Oceana Chile

🐠🐙 #Seamounts in the Southeast Pacific Ocean are among the most ecologically rich places on Earth. However, these ecosystems are threatened by industrial fishing.

At #SPRFMO, govts took a step forward but immediate action is needed. #ProtectSeamounts @dialogueearth.bsky.social #MPAs

It Is Time For New Zealand to Cease Bottom Trawling | Earth.Org New Zealand needs to stop tarnishing our global reputation to pander to a handful of renegade bottom trawling companies.

📰 The 13th #SPRFMO Commission meeting, once again concluded without any concrete action for stronger protection to safeguard deep-sea biodiversity, despite clear SPRFMO convention and global obligations to prevent damage to #VMEs. @helenclarknz.bsky.social
earth.org/it-is-time-f...

Australia lays groundwork to protect international waters trawled by NZ The US and Australia’s united front on protecting the biodiversity of undersea mountains has again been stymied by a New Zealand veto, which has blocked trawling restrictions in the high seas. The annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation took place in Santiago, Chile last week. Among the proposals put forward was a measure to protect 70 percent of vulnerable marine ecosystems such as seamounts in the South Pacific’s international waters. ## read more Foreign Affairs ### Australia lays groundwork to protect international waters trawled by NZ Foreign Affairs ### US and Aus unite against NZ hard about-turn on ocean conservation plan The proposal was identical to one put forward at the 2024 committee meeting, which was blocked as New Zealand’s opposition (supported by the Faroe Islands) stopped consensus being reached. New Zealand had originally put that proposal forward in response to a proposal for a 100 percent ban, but New Zealand ended up backing away from the proposal and it was handed in by Australia at the 2024 summit. New Zealand is the only country that actively bottom trawls in the South Pacific, where it targets orange roughy and alfonsino as they congregate on seamounts. The proposal came back again last week, with support from the US and Australia, both of whom had expressed disappointment at it being blocked in 2024. The United States said a change of government shouldn’t have undermined decisions already made by the commission, while a member of the Australian delegation penned a piece saying her country must be prepared for NZ to be an opponent rather than ally. As always, this year’s South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation meeting took place behind closed doors, but observer Barry Weeber, of Environment and Conservation Organisations, told Newsroom that consensus had not been reached on the proposal. That consensus had been blocked by New Zealand, he said. Without consensus, the proposal was withdrawn and deferred to a future meeting. New Zealand blocking the proposal happened despite a performance review of the previous meeting finding 70 percent protection, which had previously been agreed on, was binding. However the review went on to question whether the bottom fishing settings were overly restrictive for industry, a view held by Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and commercial fishing industry groups, who believe the pendulum has swung too far in favour of the environment at the expense of business. New Zealand has done very little high seas trawling in previous years, though Newsroom understands Greymouth-based Westfleet Seafoods went out late last year, an event marred by its Tasman Viking vessel trawling up coral while in the Tasman Sea. Join our **free** newsletter for in-depth environmental news and views. Join For Free It brought up 37kg of coral while fishing in the Lord Howe Rise area, triggering the move-on rule, which bans fishing in the area until 2026. Westfleet is an advocate of the pro-industry approach of Shane Jones. Donation information for 2023 election candidates showed the Fisheries Minister received $5000 from Westfleet Seafoods, half-owned by Sealord and half-owned by chief executive Craig Boote. Separately, marine and industrial engineering company Aimex – also directed by and partially owned by Boote – gave $2000 to Jones’ Northland campaign. Industry body High Seas Fishing Group was at the meeting as an observer and has been approached for comment. Alongside preventing the seamount protection proposal, New Zealand’s fishing industry had some other wins at the summit. New Zealand was seeking an ability to carry-over orange roughy catch entitlement over two years, which would have effectively allowed it to catch three years of fish at once. A similar proposal was blocked at last year’s meeting, as it was considered to be interlinked with the 70 percent protection proposal. This time around New Zealand was granted the ability to carryover unused orange roughy entitlement for one year, but it lost some of its catch limit in the Tasman Sea. In principle, there was also an agreement that a country could transfer its catch entitlement to another country, meaning if Australia was up for it, it could potentially lease its orange roughy entitlement to New Zealand. _*This story has been edited to clarify the proposal was withdrawn and deferred to a future meeting.*_

Yup.
We are the baddies. 🌊
And our government is captured by industrial interests.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/02/25/nz-blocks-sou...

#NZPol #fisheries #SPRFMO

#SPRFMO | La ORP del Pacífico Sur eleva la cuota de jurel un 25 %, pero no logra avances en materia de gestión para el calamar gigante

🔹#Calamarsur se muestra crítico con los resultados para la pota

buff.ly/4kfVBpW

Seamounts of the South Pacific - DSCC The South Pacific region, covering a quarter of the Earth’s high seas, is a treasure trove of biodiversity and a nexus of cultural heritage.

🚨 These ancient habitats can take centuries to recover, yet this destructive practice continues.

The DSCC calls on #SPRFMO Members to ensure adequate protection of #seamounts and #VMEs to prevent significant adverse impacts. #ProtectSeamounts
deep-sea-conservation.org/seamounts-of...

#BottomTrawling threatens #seamount ecosystems, scraping away habitats that can take centuries to rebuild. These impacts disrupt food webs & harm biodiversity.

#SPRFMO meeting in Santiago is crucial for the future of marine ecosystems in the S. Pacific: deep-sea-conservation.org/resources/na...

NZ Minister of Ocean Destruction going fully Trump-wanna be in fisheries forum.

https://archive.ph/xzZ7h

#ProtectTheOcean #NZPol #Fisheries #SPRFMO #NZPol

We call on #SPRFMO Members to agree on:
❌ The closure of #VMEs, including all #seamounts, to #BottomTrawling
🎣 Sustainable management of fisheries to ensure protection of #seamounts consistent with their obligations under #UNGA.
deep-sea-conservation.org/resources/na...

The #SPRFMO meeting is a crucial chance to protect #seamounts & Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems.

Thousands of seamounts in the Pacific are at risk from #BottomTrawling—it's time for States to take action and safeguard these #OceanLifelines.

In partnership with the Bla! Art Collective delegates contributed to a mural showcasing vital deep-sea biodiversity, which will be a colourful reminder of the incredible value of seamounts throughout the meeting this week.
#OceanLifelines #DefendTheDeep #SPRFMO

NZ rebuked for behaviour at fisheries forum Shane Jones hits back, saying it’s “not tolerable” to expect NZ to cede influence in the Pacific.

“The world is moving forward and starting to protect international waters. That takes international collaboration but New Zealand🇳🇿 is showing it is not capable of collaborating” DSCC's Karli Thomas.

At this #SPRFMO, we need States to #ProtectSeamounts. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

aspidodiadema_tonsum_very_long_spined_sea_urchin niwa

The South Pacific’s vulnerable ecosystems need protection.

Ahead of the 13th #SPRFMO, read @deepseaconserve.bsky.social’s priorities for this meeting, including the closure to all #seamounts to #BottomTrawling.
#OceanLifelines #DefendTheDeep #SaveOurSeamounts

📷 NIWA
https://buff.ly/4hyu8Ox