This is the first of the two-volume proceedings from "Deep Sea 2003: Conference on the Governance and Management of Deep-sea Fisheries. It 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 (FAO Fisheries Proceedings No. 3/2, ISBN 92-5-105457-6) includes posters and corresponding papers presented at the Conference as well as papers from workshops held prior to the main Conference.