📢Launched today at the Economist Impact's #WorldOceanSummit 🌊

Scientists are creating comprehensive maps of #VulnerableMarineEcosystems ( #VMEs ) across the #AtlanticOcean - using #AI to unlock decades of unexplored #DeepSea imagery: 🔗 pml.ac.uk/news/deep-vi...

Sponge grounds are vulnerable marine ecosystems #VMEs and we need to find ways to protect them. Here is a first attempt to monitor an entire population! 🤩

Last week @sciaena-ngo.bsky.social passed on the torch to @peweurope.bsky.social to guard the deep sea criter! The tiny octupus will come back to #NEAFC in 2026 where it hopes to see progress being made towards EBFM and real deep sea protection 🐙
#MakeEBFMWork #VMEs #Seamounts #OceanLifelines

📺DS series: NW Portuguese Margin

#Porto & #Aveiro #canyons are #biodiversityhotspots, yet largely unknown!

#BioProtect maps these deep-sea habitats & co-designs #AreaBasedManagement tools with fishers to protect #VMEs & support sustainable fisheries.

bitly.cx/ZTif

#MissionOcean #HorizonEU

🌊Improving predictive habitat models, improving ICES Advice
Join our Workshop on the Use of Predictive Habitat Models in ICES Advice #WKPHM2📅 12–16 May 25
🔹identify & protect #VMEs
🔹better conservation planning
🔹assess climate change impacts on deep-sea ecosystems
👉 www.ices.dk/community/gr... 📷NOAA

Esto permite mejorar las recomendaciones sobre las zonas donde se sabe o se sospecha que existen #VMEs, favoreciendo así una mejor conservación y gestión de estos ecosistemas.

Mira nuestro episodio de Dive Deep sobre VMEs con Ana Colaço:

▶ youtu.be/P14jR4jjXCU?...

Al perfeccionar los modelos predictivos y los métodos basados en datos, se refuerza la base científica para asesorar sobre los #VMEs y los efectos de la pesca.

La creciente demanda de asesoramiento científico ha impulsado mejoras en la recopilación de datos, la cartografía de hábitats y los modelos predictivos para afinar la evaluación de la distribución de los #VMEs y los impactos de la actividad humana.

El #ICES tiene una larga trayectoria asesorando sobre los #VMEs y adapta sus recomendaciones según los avances científicos, los compromisos globales en biodiversidad y las estrategias de conservación.

#WGDEC reúne a expertos en taxonomía de aguas profundas, análisis SIG, ciencia pesquera y ecología bentónica para actualizar los mapas de ecosistemas marinos vulnerables #VMEs. Este trabajo es clave para evaluar las regulaciones sobre artes de fondo y abordar preocupaciones ecológicas más amplias.

Some of our colleagues are taking part in the @icesmarine.bsky.social Working Group on Deep-water Ecology #WGDEC
#VMEs maps are being updated, which has implications for the conservation and management of deep-water ecosystems and the regulation of bottom fishing
@ieo.es
@ieo-santander.bsky.social

a woman is holding a megaphone in her hand and shouting . ALT: a woman is holding a megaphone in her hand and shouting .

📢Last call for #ICESASC25
Be a part of our Annual Science Conference 2025.
Share your research by submitting an abstract.
🔔Deadline today 24 March!​
www.ices.dk/events/asc/2...

#ResourceManagement #CumulativeImpacts #MarineBiodiversity #ArtificialReefs #VMEs
#EcosystemServices #Fisheries #Ocean

DSCC priorities for the 10th meeting of the SIOFA 2025 - Deep Sea Conservation Coalition The DSCC will draw attention to key issues requiring urgent attention by the Scientific Committee to SIOFA.

We’ll highlight the need for vulnerable marine ecosystems (#VMEs) like #seamounts, hydrothermal vents, and cold-water corals to be protected from destructive fishing practices, particularly #BottomTrawling.

Read our priorities - deep-sea-conservation.org/resources/ds...

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...

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...

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...

#VMEs at #ICESASC25

🔍Knowing where vulnerable marine ecosystems occur, helps fisheries managers make more sustainable decisions.
Join @jmburgos.bsky.social, Laura Grady & Ashley Rowden to explore the latest in predictive modeling at #ICESASC25
📄 Call for abstracts open www.ices.dk/events/asc/2...

Tracking bottom-fishing activities in protected vulnerable marine ecosystem areas and below 800-m depth in European Union waters European Commission closed vulnerable marine ecosystem areas to bottom fishing, yet fishing activities persist within closures.

#biodiversity
#overexploitation
#VMEs

Thanks to 🇪🇺 regulations of 2017 and 2022, in 🇪🇺 waters of the N-E Atlantic, bottom trawling has decreased by 81% under 800m depth and in 87 vulnerable marine ecosystems..

The Spanish fleet is responsible for more than half of illegal fishing, and the total
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Tracking bottom-fishing activities in protected vulnerable marine ecosystem areas and below 800-m depth in European Union waters European Commission closed vulnerable marine ecosystem areas to bottom fishing, yet fishing activities persist within closures.

Tracking bottom-fishing activities in protected vulnerable marine ecosystem areas and below 800-m depth in European Union waters #DSAR #VMEs #DeepSea @deepseaconserve.bwww.science

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Reaction to 2024 Sustainable Fisheries Resolution Adoption | DSCC On the 12th December, the UNGA adopted, by consensus, the annual Sustainable Fisheries Resolution. Read our reaction.

The UN General Assembly #UNGA has adopted a key resolution to protect deep-sea biodiversity!

By 2026, the UN will review actions taken to protect #seamounts & vulnerable marine ecosystems #VMEs from harmful bottom fishing🐟
See the DSCC reaction here: deep-sea-conservation.org/resources/re...

Protecting Seamounts - Deep Sea Conservation Coalition

The DSCC and its members urge the Commission to promote, propose and support the protection of all #seamounts and #VMEs on the High Seas at all deep-sea regional fisheries management organisations and support a prohibition on #DeepSeaMining in EU waters. deep-sea-conservation.org/solutions/pr...

Fisheries Minister Shane Jones calls for review of coral limits to avoid fishing bans Shane Jones' comments come after a New Zealand vessel caught more than double the legal amount of coral - triggering an automatic suspension of fishing in the Lord Howe area of the Tasman Sea.

🔴 37kg of deep-sea coral got trashed by a #BottomTrawling vessel in the Lord Howe Rise.

“This latest incident underlines why New Zealand 🇳🇿 needs to be held to account for their destruction of #VMEs under CBD & UN protection” - Karli Thomas.
#DefendTheDeep

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

A new Deep-Sea Round-Up has surfaced! Join us in discovering research on lanternsharks, #VMEs, FAIR data management practices, updates from ongoing ISA Council meetings, and more opportunities for deep-sea professionals!
👉
www.dosi-project.org/dosi-deep-se...
📷 NOAA Ocean Explorer