Governing the “High Seas” - Linking global governance and regional implementation
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABJN), often referred to as the “High Seas1”, represent around half of the Planet’s surface and host a significant portion of its biodiversity. Despite their...
Abstract
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABJN), often referred to as the “High Seas1”, represent around half of the Planet’s surface and host a significant portion of its biodiversity. Despite their global importance, there are significant governance gaps that impede effective conservation and sustainable use. Since the beginning of the 21st century, States have started to discuss, in various arenas, integrated approaches to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. This debate was prompted by increased evidence of threats to these areas (e.g. through overexploitation of living marine resources, climate change, ocean acidification or pollution). At the same time, new scientific discoveries demonstrated the importance of marine genetic resources in ABNJ. Following a commitment from the Rio +20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, current global discussions focus on the opportunity to elaborate a new international agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (an “Implementing Agreement”). In parallel, some Regional Seas Conventions have progressively extended their activities into ABNJ. In this regard, the most advanced efforts take place in the Mediterranean Sea, the North-East Atlantic and the Southern Ocean, where MPAs have already been designated in ABNJ. This workshop will explore the relationship between global (i.e. international conventions and organisations) and regional level governance in ABNJ (i.e. Regional Seas programmes, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other regional mechanisms such as Large Marine Ecosystems) and consider options for filling governance gaps.
Abstract
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABJN), often referred to as the “High Seas1”, represent around half of the Planet’s surface and host a significant portion of its biodiversity. Despite their global importance, there are significant governance gaps that impede effective conservation and sustainable use. Since the beginning of the 21st century, States have started to discuss, in various arenas, integrated approaches to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. This debate was prompted by increased evidence of threats to these areas (e.g. through overexploitation of living marine resources, climate change, ocean acidification or pollution). At the same time, new scientific discoveries demonstrated the importance of marine genetic resources in ABNJ. Following a commitment from the Rio +20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, current global discussions focus on the opportunity to elaborate a new international agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (an “Implementing Agreement”). In parallel, some Regional Seas Conventions have progressively extended their activities into ABNJ. In this regard, the most advanced efforts take place in the Mediterranean Sea, the North-East Atlantic and the Southern Ocean, where MPAs have already been designated in ABNJ. This workshop will explore the relationship between global (i.e. international conventions and organisations) and regional level governance in ABNJ (i.e. Regional Seas programmes, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other regional mechanisms such as Large Marine Ecosystems) and consider options for filling governance gaps.
Publication Details
Authors: Julien Rochette, Sebastian Unger, Glen Wright
Year: 2014 Location: Potsdam, Germany Pages: 1–14
