And the meeting has just finished the discussions on whether it is possible for states to encourage one another to take ‘urgent measures’ to protect deep-sea life. New Zealand played a leading role by making a forceful statement on the need for states to take urgent measures. They even argued for “interim targeted bans on bottom trawling”, and were supported by Costa Rica, Nigeria, Mexico, Chile and even the European Community (although we are led to believe that this was due to a small lapse in focus by the Commission on behalf of the Community). The discussion went on for quite some time, with Canada and Iceland gradually whittling down the language until everything centered on the use of one word: ‘regional’. Iceland refused to lose the word “regional”, which led to the discarding of the whole paragraph on high seas bottom trawling, just like the unwanted by-catch the Warrior has seen thrown over the side of the bottom trawlers in the Tasman.

11.20pm

A remarkable development since our earlier notes. It seems that there was so much discontent over the exclusion of the language on bottom trawling, that some ‘informal’ discussions have – quite unexpectedly - rekindled the discarded paragraph. Translated from UN-speak into English, it appears that these states have agreed to work more quickly together – even urgently - to establish temporary measures (like halting bottom trawling, which it does not say) in areas where they have an interest in the conservation and management of fisheries resources. Essentially what this appears to mean is that states are beginning to accept that they need to act to stop their vessels bottom trawling on the high seas.

The theme of this meeting was the contribution of fisheries to sustainable development. The repetitive discussions were sustained late into the evening, but few concrete actions to stop the oceans crisis were developed. A potential giant step forward for the protection of deep-sea life was almost thwarted by the intransigence of one state, then partially rescued. This meeting may be in its final phases, but we go forward from here knowing that the momentum towards a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling is strong, and growing. We will be working around the world with our colleagues in the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition to ensure that more and more States support this call and that these states finally act to ensure the future of the deep sea.

Karen, Saskia and Sebas in New York.