The Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) Fisheries Working Group is inviting expert insights on the current status and future direction of science and policy on mesopelagic ecosystems.
Mesopelagic ecosystems are a vital component of a thriving global ocean. However, despite the recent acceleration in scientific discovery, considerable geographic and scientific gaps still prevent a comprehensive assessment of how mesopelagic communities may be impacted by future anthropogenic threats (e.g., fisheries, deep-sea mining, oil spills). Further, there are few mesopelagic-specific policies in place globally to safeguard this region of the ocean from potential future overexploitation.
The Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) Fisheries Working Group developed the following survey to gather data on the current understanding of the science and policy gaps in the mesopelagic zone. To be effective, the working group is calling on experts interested in the field(s) of mesopelagic scientific research and/or policy, to share their perspectives. The results of this survey will inform a scientific manuscript by the DOSI Fisheries Working Group that advises on ecosystem-based management to ensure the sustainability of mesopelagic resources and guide future research and management efforts.
This survey is estimated to take 25 minutes to complete. The survey, available here, will remain open until a sufficient number of responses is received.
Photo Credit: Saya de Malha, © Sheena Talma
