How can we ensure a harmonised approach when reporting on management effectiveness for fisheries OECMs?
The World Database on Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECMs) managed by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) provides a platform for reporting on OECMs, including fisheries measures that qualify as OECMs.
However, no harmonised guidance on how reporting on the monitoring of governance, stakeholder involvement and management systems that contribute to the sustained long-term biodiversity benefits is available.
The Joint ICES/EBCD/IUCN/CEM-FEG Workshop on
Assessing Management Effectiveness of Other Effective Area-based Conservation
Measures (OECMs) in marine capture fisheries (WKAMO) that will take
place 5-7 May 2026, chaired by Francis Neat (SE,
WMU/IMO/UN) and Daniela
Diz (UK,
IUCN-CEM-FEG) will address this issue in detail.
Over three days, WKAMO will:
- Use a representative subset of fisheries-related OECMs already identified or in the process of identification for detailed examination
- Document how management effectiveness has been approached in relation to the conservation objectives, targets and reference values, the performance of the management measure and the extent of biodiversity benefits accomplished.
- Identify pragmatic approaches to assess the biodiversity benefits of fisheries OECMs beyond monitoring that RFMOs can contribute to.
- Develop a ready-to-use template specifically tailored to fisheries OECMs to help meet the obligations to report on ongoing management effectiveness to CBD.
Participation
WKAMO will be held in a hybrid format. Active participation throughout the three-day workshop is highly recommended. Please note that participation/ travel is at own expense.
Registration for the workshop is closed.
If oversubscribed, ICES may prioritise participation to
ensure a balanced group of experts enabling constructive discussion, diverse
perspectives, and appropriate regional representation. Selected participants
will be informed by shortly after the closing date for registration. If you
have any questions, please contact Lara
Salvany and/or Maria Lifentseva.
