CCAMLR, IATTC, ICCAT, NAFO and NEAFC manage fishing primarily through catch limits. For some species, RFMOs have adopted mesh regulations and/or minimum size limits, and seasonal and/or temporal area closures.

The unique ability of remote sensing satellites to provide comprehensive, synoptic and multi-temporal coverage of large areas at regular intervals is an example of a space technology application for environmental monitoring.

The establishments of area-based management measures, including representative networks of marine protected areas and temporal and spatial closures for fisheries management, consistent with international law and based on scientific information, was identified by most delegations as a key tool to improve integrated conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

2006: (i) At the Seventh meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea 12-16 June at United Nations headquarters New York, TIRN's Sea Turtle Restoration Project presented a plan of action to the United Nations regarding the protection and restoration of the leatherback sea turtle against long line fishing, which included: action by United Nations delegates to include language that will require the immediate cessation of long line fishing in areas known to be migratory paths of the leatherback in the Pacific to their resolutions, measures to be taken to find solutions to the problem through a comprehensive ecosystem-based management plan that addresses high seas long line fishing, use of permanent and temporal closures of critical areas of the high seas from long line fishing, and creation of high seas marine protected areas to provide a haven for sea turtles and other species that are threatened by destructive fishing practices; (ii) TIRN attended the United Nation's Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction from 13-17 February at United Nations headquarters New York.