The Republic of Vanuatu recently joined the global commitment known as the Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge that aims to protect the ocean's "twilight zone" while at the United Nations' Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan, Armenia.
"Vanuatu is proud to join the Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge,” Vanuatu Director of Environmental Protection and Conservation Osborne Melenamu said in a release by Ocean Conservancy. “The twilight zone is bound up with everything we depend on – our tuna fisheries, our food security and the climate stability our islands need to survive. We welcome this initiative and look forward to working with partner nations to advance its objectives.”
The commitment is led by Washington D.C., U.S.A.-based nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, New York City, New York, U.S.A.-based nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, and Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based nonprofit Marine Conservation Institute. The "twilight zone" comprises about 20 percent of the ocean's volume, but homes an estimated 90 percent of fish biomass, according to the release.
Earlier in 2026, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S.A. released a study finding that industrial fishing has affected a large portion of the "twilight zone's" biomass, dispelling the previous belief that this area has remained largely untouched by commercial activities.
“The twilight zone is home to important sources of food for many of the ocean’s fish and wildlife and is an integral part of the carbon pump,” Ocean Conservancy Vice President of Conservation Chris Dorsett said. “We still have an opportunity to protect this critical part of the ocean before growing threats from fishing and deep-sea mining take hold. This challenge gives governments a chance to put science and sound management measures in place to prevent irreparable harm.”
Ocean Conservancy added that this zone is defined as the area between 200 and 1,000 meters beneath the ocean surface and is a critical link between the surface of the ocean and the abyss which helps regulate the climate. Species found in this zone include whales, dolphins, seabirds, sharks, tuna, and swordfish. The Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge was launched in June 2026 and is a voluntary initiative for governments to join, led by conservation organizations, research institutions, and stakeholders looking to continue protective work in this area. This includes learning more about risks to commercial fishing activities or human activities, advancing scientific research, creating management frameworks with sustainability measures in mind, and overall education about the importance of the "twilight zone." Vanuatu joins the governments of Fiji and Panama on the challenge.
“The ocean twilight zone sustains marine food webs and helps regulate our climate. Protecting these existing benefits is essential for ocean health and the communities that depend on it,” Environmental Defense Fund Associate Vice President for Oceans Science Kristin Kleisner said. “By joining the Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge, countries are committing to advance scientific understanding and put precautionary safeguards in place before potentially harmful activities expand. This is an opportunity to act together now to protect an ecosystem we cannot afford to lose.”
