Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)
The Issue: For the 61% of the ocean that lies in areas beyond national jurisdiction, a new international agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the BBNJ Agreement, has now been adopted at the UN. Science, technology and innovation crosscut this new agreement and will play an integral role during implementation, including for area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, capacity building and technology transfer, and the sharing benefits from marine genetic resources. As such, connecting deep ocean science and knowledge with decision-makers remains paramount as the agreement moves towards ratification and entry into force.
The Working Group: The BBNJ working group, which currently has 209 members, aims to connect scientific information and knowledge with decision-makers and policy processes related to the BBNJ Agreement.
- Synthesise scientific knowledge relating to the conservation and sustainable use of BBNJ and identify key issues for the development of the BBNJ instrument;
- Publish open-access academic papers, policy briefs, and educational materials on key issues for BBNJ and provide input to the BBNJ negotiation process through submissions, side-events, workshops and engagement;
- Provide a focal point for deep-sea scientific expertise and network engagement on BBNJ relevant issues and a platform for collaboration between scientists and other stakeholders.
- Gaebel, C. et al., 2024, Institutionalising science and knowledge under the agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ): Stakeholder perspectives on a fit-for-purpose Scientific and Technical Body, Marine Policy,
- Gaebel, C., A new agreement for biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), Deep-Sea Life, Issue 21.
- November 2020 – New report commissioned by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) investigates the scientific capacity challenges facing Small Island Developing States in relation to marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction and proposes options to address such challenges through a new treaty for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. The report was led by Harriet Harden-Davies and Marjo Vierros alongside an expert advisory panel: Judith Gobin (Professor, University of the West Indies), Marcel Jaspars (Professor, University of Aberdeen), Angelique Pouponneau (CEO, Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust) and Katy Soapi (Research Scientist, Fiji). Read the summary for policymakers.
- June 2020 – Harden-Davies H, Humphries F, Maloney M, Wright G, Gjerde K, Vierros M (2020) Rights of Nature: Perspectives for Global Ocean Stewardship. Marine Policy.
- Gaebel, C. et al., 2020, Recognising Stakeholder Conflict and Encouraging Consensus of ‘Science-Based Management’ Approaches for Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), Frontiers in Marine Science
- September 2019 – Rabone M, Harden-Davies H, Collins JE, Zajderman S, Appeltans W, Droege G, Brandt A, Pardo-Lopez L, Dahlgren TG, Glover AG and Horton T (2019) Access to Marine Genetic Resources (MGR): Raising awareness of best-practice through a new agreement for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Front. Mar. Sci.
- “The Ocean Decade and the BBNJ Agreement: Synergies and opportunities”: The BBNJ working group co-hosted an on-site event at the Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, alongside the IUCN, Nippon Foundation-University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices Programme, IDDRI, and the High Seas Alliance.
- Working group Co-Leads Christine Gaebel and Paul Snelgrove were invited panellists at the International Symposium on Science-Policy Interfaces hosted by IOC UNESCO and the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) in Paris, France. Summary of discussions can be found here.
- Working group Co-Leads Christine Gaebel and Harriet Harden Davies were invited panellists at the High Seas Treaty Symposium in Edinburgh, UK. Christine joined the panel on ‘BBNJ and the best-available science’, and Harriet joined the panel on ‘Capacity building and transfer of marine technology’.
- Working group Co-Lead Christine Gaebel was an invited keynote speaker at the International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals, where she spoke about deep-ocean science and knowledge in implementing the BBNJ Agreement and the role of the Scientific and Technical Body. At the symposium, the BBNJ working group also hosted a workshop, which brought together deep-ocean scientists to explore opportunities and challenges for deep-ocean science under the BBNJ agreement.
- High Seas Treaty Dialogue ( 20-21 January 2020, Nobel Institute, Oslo, Norway): High Seas Treaty Dialogue on Marine Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing. Harriet Harden-Davies was invited to discuss one of the most challenging issues to date in the BBNJ negotiations.
- Towards a package: marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (22-23 January 2020, Royal Society of Edinburgh, UK): DOSI co-sponsored (along with University of Aberdeen and the Atlas Project) a gathering of more than 50 participants to discuss the development of BBNJ. The participants included policymakers, diplomats, civil society and academic experts from legal, scientific and other backgrounds. With the fourth (and possibly final) round of negotiations fast approaching, this workshop provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views and identify areas where further discussions are needed. Harriet Harden-Davies was an invited speaker for the session on Access and Benefit-Sharing. In addition to the workshop, a public event and reception was held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on the evening of 22 January. Harriet Harden-Davies delivered the opening address.
- BBNJ Working Group Workshop, University of Southampton, UK (April 2018): Science diplomacy for stewardship advancing science-based policy for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction through the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI). Link to Report.
- Paul Snelgrove attended BBNJ ICG and presented on behalf of DOSI BBNJ working group during a side-event with the IOC, Belgium and Nauru entitled The potential interlinkages between the UN Ocean Science Decade and scientific aspects in the context of BBNJ in April 2018.
Organizational Meeting of the BBNJ PrepCom
- Working Group Co-Lead Christine Gaebel and group member Marina Garwood, among other members, attended the organisational meeting for the BBNJ PrepCom to continue and advance DOSI’s efforts to connect delegates with the best available science and knowledge.
IGC5
- We attended the final session of BBNJ IGC-5 to share important ocean science. Our policy brief on connections between the deep ocean and BBNJ is here. You can read a report of DOSI’s actions at the event here.
- BBNJ Working Group experts were in attendance to share important science at the first part of IGC5 in August of 2022. You can read an update on how the Conference went here. You can also read our updated policy brief on The Deep Ocean and BBNJ here.
IGC4
- The last in the series of four intergovernmental conferences (IGC) to craft the new legal instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was due to take place in March 2020. While our DOSI stakeholder commentary was submitted in advance of this date, the event was unfortunately cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Negotiations restarted in March of 2022, and DOSI is supporting those efforts. In addition to having scientists in attendance, we have created a policy brief for negotiators titled The Deep Ocean and BBNJ: Important Points for IGC-4.
IGC3
- DOSI attended with a full delegation, disseminating a new policy brief, taking part in discussions, and delivering a DOSI side-event.
- Relevant policy briefs:
- Ocean Deoxygenation: A Hidden Threat to Biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction
- DOSI comments on BBNJ Text Aug 2019
- DOSI side-event: Updates from the field: Connecting Ecosystems and Cultures through Deep-Sea Exploration
- Blog: Marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdiction
IGC2
- Side Events: In support of the second two-week conference, DOSI collaborated in five side events: (https://www.un.org/bbnj/content/side-events)
- 27/03; “Facilitating Capacity Development, Transfer of Marine Technology and Ocean Science in BBNJ” IOC & DOSI. DOSI speaker: Muriel Rabone
- 28/03: “Mare Geneticum and an Ecosystem Approach: Power, Openness and Sharing” IUCN, DOSI, University of Aberdeen. DOSI speaker: Muriel Rabone
- 29/03: “Conservation, Climate Change and Ocean Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction”, Papua New Guinea; Belize, Federated States of Micronesia, DOSI. DOSI speaker: Diva Amon
- 30/03: “PSIDS Regional workshop”: IUCN, Norway, DOSI. DOSI speaker: Harriet Harden-Davies
- 01/04: “The Role of Science and a Scientific Body Under the New Instrument” Canada, High Seas Alliance, DOSI. DOSI speakers: Paul Snelgrove, Harriet Harden-Davies
- Interventions: In total, three DOSI interventions were made: intervention 1; intervention 2, intervention 3
- Policy Briefs: Two new policy briefs were published by DOSI in advance of the meeting and have been widely distributed:
- “Access and sharing benefits from marine genetic resources from ABNJ: building on best practices in the scientific community” http://dosi-project.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/027-DOSI-MGR-2-print-2.pdf
- “The Full Value of Marine Genetic Resources”http://dosi-project.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Full-value-mgr-March2019.pdf
- A summary of the conference was published on DSM Observer, co-authored by Aria Ritz Finkelstein and Jeffrey Marlow.
IGC1
- DOSI facilitated scientific and technical input to the development of the BBNJ instrument. As BBNJ issues cut across a number of working group areas, this working group facilitates coordination and engagement across all DOSI-relevant areas. The DOSI delegation to the negotiations was: Harriet Harden-Davies (University of Wollongong), Jeff Marlow (Harvard University), Paul Snelgrove (Memorial University) and Porter Hoagland (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).
- Policy Briefs: DOSI compiled and distributed four policy briefs:
- Deep-Sea Fundamentals (further info on deep-sea fundamentals in July 2018 National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series (for educators): Beyond the last frontier: The deep sea and why it matters. http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html
- Strategic Environmental Assessment
- Climate and biodiversity beyond the limits of national jurisdiction
- Sustaining biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions: The major science challenges
- Side Events: Four officially sanctioned side-events were organized and co-organized through DOSI members:
- The role of deep-sea research in technology transfer: DOSI, UNESCO-IOC, Maldives (12/09)
- Marine genetic resources: IUCN, Norway, Jamaica, DOSI (6/09)
- Exploring options for a scientific and technical committee: Pew Charitable Trusts, DOSI (7/09)
- Ocean noise: Ocean Care, DOSI
- Conference Report: DOSI’s report on the first intergovernmental conference can be found here.
- A summary of the conference was published on DSM observer, authored by Harriet Harden-Davies http://dsmobserver.com/2018/11/all-in-the-same-boat-negotiations-for-biodiversity-beyond-national-jurisdiction-begin/
- DOSI Commentary on the revised draft text of an agreement under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (20 February 2020)
Collaborate with us to advance deep-sea climate science. Engage in meetings, contribute to policy briefs and publications, and participate in international events.
WG members are encouraged to actively engage with WG communications and meetings, as these are where further information will be provided on workshops, outputs such as policy briefs and publications, as well as event attendance. Please note: DOSI Ambassadors who are involved key meetings are selected according to our DOSI internal policy and at the discretion of the WG leads.
Working Group Leads
Christine Gaebel
University of Edinburgh, UK
Harriet Harden-Davies
University of Edinburgh, UK
Paul Snelgrove
Memorial University, Canada
