We should not limit our focus simply to the issue of bottom trawling.

A number of delegations referred to the problems of by catches as well as to the issue of destructive fishing practices, in particular bottom trawling.

The Pacific Islands Forum addressed the need for management of deep sea bottom trawling at its Leaders meeting in October.

The continued use of destructive fishing practices, such as bottom trawling, whether conducted within an EEZ or on the high seas, was deplored by several delegations and non governmental organizations.

A. Seabed Disputes Chamber

J. Matters relating to the Seabed Disputes Chamber

Over the last several years, the Authority has convened a series of workshops on topics related to the deep seabed environment and its resources.

We have invested heavily in the exploration of minerals in the deep seabed.

68. Calls upon members of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements without the competence to regulate bottom fisheries and the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems to expand the competence, where appropriate, of their organizations or arrangements in this regard

84. Also calls upon regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries to make the measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 83 of the present resolution publicly available

Information and data relating to the international seabed area

The seabed covers some 71 per cent of world's surface.

Industrial trawlers and draggers are scraping the sea floor like bulldozers, taking everything in their path.

In the communiqué issued by the Pacific Islands Forum in October this year, Forum leaders noted the call for a moratorium on deep sea bottom trawling and for the creation of a legal framework to manage that method of fishing in order to protect biodiversity in the high seas.

There is a growing interest for bioprospecting for deep seabed genetic resources.

98. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 83 to 91 of resolution 61 105 addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the urgent actions called for in that resolution

At the eighteenth session, the matter was referred to the Seabed Disputes Chamber.

We are now in the process of closing five areas, covering a total of 80 square kilometres, to fishing with gear which adversely affects the seabed, with the aim of protecting vulnerable cold water corals. We are working on the basis of scientific information, and we address the issue of protection on a case by case basis.

We also encourage the International Seabed Authority to undertake the necessary measures with regard to the protection of the flora and fauna of the seabed, as provided for in article 145 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The library manages the Authority's specialized collection of reference and research materials focusing on matters relating to the law of the sea and deep seabed mining.

It sets up rules for all uses of all living and non living resources on the high seas, on the ocean floor and beneath it, on the continental shelf and in the territorial seas.

We are well aware of the need to take urgent action to prevent, and manage the effects of, destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling, which have an adverse impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems, and we firmly support such action.

We reiterate our concern at the insufficiency of scientific information on the destructive environmental impact of deep sea fishing practices, in particular bottom trawling.

The workshops provided the best available scientific information on deep seabed resources and the ecosystems in which they are found.

Subordinate legislation regulating fishing on the high seas under the Ukrainian flag is currently being developed.

My delegation is pleased at the progress that has been achieved so far in the management of the resources of the seabed area beyond national jurisdiction.

Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof

Some delegations held the view that since bottom trawling affected the resources on the seabed, including sedentary species, the competency of the International Seabed Authority should be respected.

At the eighteenth session, the members of the Seabed Disputes Chamber exchanged views on developments regarding the work of the International Seabed Authority and the question of a code of conduct for counsel appearing before the Chamber.

Domestically, Canada is building a strategy to improve international cooperation in the fight on high seas overfishing.

I'm basically just a guy that likes to go fishing ever since I was a little kid, and because I did, I wound up studying sea birds to try to stay in the coastal habitats that I so loved.

The vitally rich biodiversity of the sea bottom is the common heritage of all people and must be protected by all Member States.

Over the past year the three institutions created by the Convention covered new ground in carrying out their mandates. The International Seabed Authority continued to make progress in developing the framework for cooperation in the area of seabed resources.

Trawl doors are available in various sizes and shapes and may be specialized to keep in contact with the sea bottom (bottom trawling) or to remain elevated in the water.

As required, the applicant has expended more than 30 million in research and prospecting in the deep seabed.

They advocated the adoption of a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling as an interim measure until a lasting solution could be devised by the international community.

Geography Khniss is a coastal city which features the beginning of an amazing marine depression of shallow seabed that stretches till Cap Dimass in Bekalta, ancient Thapsus.

The sustainable fisheries draft resolution stands as an undertaking by the international community to review the impact of fishing activity on marine bed ecosystems.

Aside from the traditional non living resources of the sea, such as oil and gas, it is estimated that the seabed contains close to 300 minerals, many of which may eventually prove worthy of exploration and exploitation for the benefit of mankind.

Several delegations highlighted the difficulties experienced by small scale fishers in gaining access to high seas fishing grounds.

I wish to take this opportunity to draw attention to the fact that the Seabed Disputes Chamber not only is competent to deal with disputes regarding activities in the international seabed area but is also empowered to give advisory opinions.

Other threats to the marine and coastal ecosystems from marine litter include smothering of the seabed and disturbance of habitats from mechanical beach cleaning.

The International Seabed Authority can and is supposed to regulate mining activities in the Area in such a way that any negative effects on the marine environment are minimized or avoided.

Palau will continue to raise the issue of a prohibition on deep sea bottom trawling at all international forums until the legal infrastructure is in place to deal with that destructive practice.

The Convention and the Agreement relating to the implementation of part XI of the Convention ( the 1994 Agreement ) adopted on 28 July 1994 by the General Assembly of the United Nations2 together contain the regime for the administration of the deep seabed and its resources.