Marine Protected Areas on the high seas - symposium (day 1)

Marine Protected Areas on the high seas - two-day symposium organised by Kirsty Kemp (ZSL) and Alex Rogers (University of Oxford)

The deep sea is the largest ecosystem on Earth. It is also the least understood and is threatened by increasing anthropogenic disturbance. Advances in technology mean it is now possible to fish these regions to depths in excess of two kilometres. Mining, drilling, acidification and warming all present serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

High Seas, those areas of the open ocean that lie beyond the 200nm Exclusive Economic Zones of coastal nations, encompass ~50% of Earth's surface but remain largely unregulated. Attempts to ameliorate threats to fished species by conventional fishery management approaches are frequently ineffective. Legal frameworks for prospecting and the extraction of mineral resources from the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction exist but do not apply to other activities.

Marine Protected Areas established in coastal marine ecosystems are proving successful in effectively protecting diversity and productivity where traditional management approaches have failed. In 2002 the World Summit on Sustainable Development listed the establishment of Marine Protected Areas and representative networks by the year 2012 as a distinct goal. In response to concerns raised by the international community the UN adopted several resolutions with respect to the management of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas. This issue is high on conservation agendas; however, there remains a critical need for science to translate rapidly and effectively into management policy.

The purpose of this symposium is to assess the current state of progress, and any barriers, towards the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, particularly in regions beyond the reaches of national jurisdiction — the high seas.

Organised by Kirsty Kemp (Institute of Zoology, ZSL) and Alex Rogers (Dept. of Zoology, University of Oxford).

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON

For further details or to register your interest, please see www.zsl.org/science/scientific-meetings/ or contact Joy Hayward, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY; tel: +44 (0)20 7449 6227; fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411; e-mail: joy.hayward@zsl.org.

ZSL Science and Conservation Events: An essential part of ZSL's work is to communicate relevant, high-quality zoological and conservation science. The integrated ZSL Science and Conservation Events programme includes Symposia, and the new 'Wildlife Conservation' and 'Communicating Science' series. Topics cover a wide variety of zoological and conservation themes, and international experts present and discuss their research

Further Information: please contact Joy Hayward, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: joy.hayward@zsl.org.

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