La haute mer et la pêche

Abstract

From a legal standpoint, the High sea is the international area which lies beyond the limits of the zone where the bordering states claim exclusive rights. This huge « oceanic province », which stretches over nearly 60% of the whole ocean surface, only provides 10% of the sea fisheries catches, because the high sea waters are biologically poor, the fishing operations are costly there, and because only pelagic fisheries can be carried out. In the High sea, exploitation chiefly lies on high value fish species, particularly on tropical tunas, although today these are on the verge of overfishing. The fishing of High sea cephalopods and krill could be developped. Lastly, small size meso- and infrapelagic fishes (living between 200 and 700 m deep) could provide future resources, but rather for fish meal reduction than for direct human food.

Keywords

• Fisheries
• High sea