Climate change is likely to severely limit the effectiveness of deep-sea ABMTs in the North Atlantic

In the North Atlantic, Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs), including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and
areas describing the inherent value of marine biodiversity, have been created in Areas Beyond National
Jurisdiction (ABNJ). This deep-sea area (> 200 m) supports vitally important ecosystem services. Dealing with
the multiple and increasing pressures placed on the deep sea requires adequate governance and management
systems, and a thorough evaluation of cumulative impacts grounded on sound science. Notwithstanding the
different objectives of various types of ABMTs, at an ocean scale it makes good sense to consider MPAs,
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and other effective conservation measures, such as areas
closed to protect Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), collectively to inform future systematic conservation
planning. This paper focuses on climate change pressures likely to affect these areas and the need to evaluate
implications for the state of biodiversity features for which they have been established. In a 20–50 year timeframe,
virtually all North Atlantic deep-water and open ocean ABMTs will likely be affected. More precise and
detailed oceanographic data are needed to determine possible refugia, and more research on adaptation and
resilience in the deep sea is needed to predict ecosystem response times. Until such analyses can be made, a more
precautionary approach is advocated, potentially setting aside more extensive areas and strictly limiting human
uses and/or adopting high protection thresholds before any additional human use impacts are allowed.