The main objectives of the Conference were to share information and the best scientific evidence available on the status of main commercial species of shrimp and groundfish in the region, discuss and evaluate management recommendations and their applicability and discuss a way forward for improving cooperation in fisheries research and management in the subregion.

Includes the keynote addresses and papers presented on the conference themes that covered: environment, ecosystem biology, habitat, diversity and oceanography; population biology and resource assessment; harvesting and conservation strategies for resource management; technology requirements; monitoring, compliance and controls; a review of existing policies and instruments; and governance and management. It also provides the perspectives of participating experts and the conference Steering Committee. The general conclusions of the conference contain the elements that must be addressed and undertaken if deep-sea fish resources are to be sustained and their habitat protected to ensure productivity and safeguard deep-sea biodiversity. The second volume of the proceedings includes posters and corresponding papers presented at the conference as well as papers from workshops held prior to the main conference.

This session was held in concomitance with a Symposium on Inland Fisheries Management and the Aquatic Environment. The session reviewed EIFAC's activities since 2000 in the fields of fishery biology and management, aquaculture, protection of the aquatic resource, and social and economic issues.