Illuminating the Depths: Pathways to Protect Mesopelagic Ecosystem Integrity

Join us at Centro Capital Centre for an evening reception focused on protecting the mesopelagic zone, a critical ocean ecosystem under threat. The event will highlight “Motion 035: Protection of mesopelagic ecosystem integrity” for consideration at the IUCN World Conservation Congress Members Assembly. We’ll discuss the significance of the mesopelagic zone and the actions needed to further understand this ecosystem, prevent unregulated impacts, and ensure transparency before it’s too late.

The mesopelagic zone, also known as the “Ocean Twilight Zone,” lies 200-1000 meters deep and is one of the ocean’s most mysterious—and vital—layers. Each night, billions of animals rise and fall through its waters in the largest migration on Earth, transporting between 2-6 gigatons of carbon from the surface to the deep sea, a critical piece of the ocean’s role in climate regulation. These species are also a key part of the ocean’s food web, feeding many larger animals including commercially important fishes such as tuna and swordfish. But the future of the mesopelagic zone is at risk. Home to, by some estimates 90% of the ocean’s fish biomass, the mesopelagic zone if of interest for industrial fishing efforts to meet global demands for fish meal and fish oil. Without further scientific research on how these efforts could affect the ocean’s ecosystem—as well as how the life in this zone could suffer from the additional effects of climate change and deep-sea mining—extracting this zone is a dangerous risk for our planet’s wellbeing, and for our own.

IUCN Motion 035 calls for a precautionary approach on fishing in the mesopelagic zone until science can guide responsible decisions. At this Congress, we are calling on IUCN members to VOTE YES on Motion 035 to safeguard this extraordinary ecosystem before it’s too late.

Illuminating the Depths: Paths to Protect Mesopelagic Ecosystem Integrity