Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), which comprise 64 percent of the ocean’s surface, contain ecosystems with marine resources and biodiversity of great ecological, socio economic and cultural importance. However, the complex management of the rich marine resources and biodiversity of the ABNJ requires international cooperation. This has improved since the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982. Nevertheless, challenges remain if the responsible and sustainable use of these important ecosystems is to be achieved. The objective of the project was to promote effective global and regional coordination and to strengthen the capacities needed to achieve sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in the ABNJ. This was to be achieved by ( i ) strengthening and broadening cross sectoral dialogue and policy coordination in ABNJ, (ii) increasing the capability of decision makers (especially those from developing countries) to participate in policy making processes for management and coordination of ABNJ activities and (iii) broadening the public understanding of threats to biodiversity, marine ecosystems and services related to the ABNJ.

This Side Event addresses possible modalities for capacity development on the other three major emphases of the BBNJ Agreement—area-based management (ABMTs), environmental impact assessment (EIAs), and marine genetic resources (MGRs), taking into consideration the possible impacts of climate change.

This Side Event features a Policy Brief on Capacity Development as a Key Aspect of a New International Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a multi-author, multi-institutional effort led by the GEF/FAO/GOF Project on Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which provides practical analyses and suggestions for capacity development related to BBNJ for input into the BBNJ negotiations.

Program of the High-Level Dialogue and Global Media Forum taking place on the occasion of the inauguration of the world's first-ever large high seas aquarium and exhibit: Nausicáa, the French National Sea Center in Boulogne-sure-mer, France, from 26-28 June 2018. 

This side event focuses on tangible recommendations on options for capacity building in BBNJ for discussion by decision makers at the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (General Assembly resolution 72/249).