Report of the Workshop on Deep-Sea Species Identification

A Workshop on Deep-sea Species Identification was organized by FAO in Rome, Italy, from 2 to 4 December 2009. The meeting was organized in response to the need for a strategy for the development of appropriate deep-sea species identification tools for fishery purposes, in particular, to address the broadened requirements for reporting on not only target species, but also associated species following recent international developments with respect to fisheries management guidance and biodiversity conservation. The Workshop included an overview of relevant FAO programmes. The overview was followed by presentations and discussions on current knowledge and key issues to be addressed to improve knowledge of vulnerable deep-sea species groups such as chondrichthyes, corals, sponges and other selected deep-sea groups through the development of a database and appropriate identification tools to facilitate reporting on these species groups by fishery operators. Part 1 of the report includes these discussions as well as the conclusions and recommendations agreed upon by participants. Harmonized versions of the three background documents drafted for the Workshop are included in Part 2 of the report--