The 2019 expert workshop on pelagic ecoregionalisation for the Subantarctic region aimed to develop a workplan for describing pelagic regionalisation in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean in the area from 20° W to 160° E and from 30° S to 60° S (Makhado et al., 2019). The Paris workshop in 2023 focused on the distribution of plankton, mesopelagic fish and top predators for conservation. The workshop highlighted major frontal zones as drivers of regionalisation and the impacts of climate change on pelagic life, and marine birds and mammals. The need for a biogeographic approach was emphasised as a second step to ecoregionalisation, considering the diversity of oceanographic regions, species assemblages and production areas.
The workshop revised the list of WPs which now includes Integrated Ocean Management and Research and Monitoring.
In WP 1, we delved into ecoregionalisation, encompassing various aspects such as geographic influences (WP 1.1), fine-tuning through the utilisation of physical and biogeochemical data (WP 1.2), and a comprehensive study of species distribution achieved through pelagic acoustic echoregionalisation. Additionally, we created atlases detailing zooplankton, mesopelagic fish, and seabirds, and marine mammals (WP 1.3-4). In the upcoming WP 1.5, our focus will shift towards the development of synthetic species assemblage data. This will be achieved by employing predictive modelling techniques on species, assemblages, and ecoregions.
Future work will include connectivity (WP 2), climate change impacts (WP 3), integrated ocean management (WP 4), research (WP 5) and education (WP 6).
Recommendations include consideration of Subtropical areas, climate impacts, and high seas management tools between EEZs, ABNJ, and CCAMLR, depending on the geographical area concerned. The three-year plan aims to involve members, develop a steering committee, and integrate early-career ocean professionals.