STATEMENT: Ocean Conservancy Celebrates Passage of IUCN Motion to Safeguard the Ocean Twilight Zone

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Today the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) voted for Motion 035, “Protection of mesopelagic ecosystem integrity”, at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The motion, championed by Ocean Conservancy, calls for protecting the ocean twilight zone and fully understanding this vital but fragile ecosystem before authorizing industrial exploration of the deep ocean. Ocean Conservancy’s Vice President of Conservation Chris Dorsett released the following statement:

“Today is a big day for small fish – species that live in the twilight zone don’t make it onto restaurant menus, but they form the base of the ocean food chain and carry important climate regulation functions. By passing IUCN Motion 35, and urging a precautionary approach, the world is sending a strong message that the ocean twilight zone is vital to life on earth, and must be protected.”

The ocean twilight zone, formally known as the mesopelagic zone, is the area of ocean 200 to 1,000 meters (220-1,100 yards) below the surface. It is home to many fascinating animals who make a daily migration through the water column, locking away 2-6 gigatons of carbon at the bottom of the ocean each year. That is more than twice the amount of carbon produced by all the cars on earth each year, making these animals a critical part of climate regulation. Additionally, mesopelagic species are a vital part of the food web for commercially important species like tuna. The ocean twilight zone by some estimates  contains up to 95% of fish biomass in the ocean.

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For more than 50 years, Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it. Today, we continue to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from the greatest challenges it faces: climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are a 501(C)3 headquartered in Washington, D.C. that inspires a worldwide network of partners, advocates and supporters through our comprehensive and clear-eyed approach to ocean conservation. Together, we are securing a healthy ocean and a thriving planet, forever and for everyone. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.