Governance of marine biodiversity in areas beyong national jurisdiction at the regional level: filling the gaps and strengthening the framework for action: case studies from the North-East Atlantic, Southern Ocean, Western Indian Ocean, South West Pacific and the Sargasso Sea

Abstract

Marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) is currently facing increasing human pressures and growing threats. For these reasons, it is at the heart of numerous international discussions, including a process launched under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). However, while discussions are ongoing at the international level, it is becoming increasingly apparent and relevant that action at the regional level is imperative to protect marine biodiversity in ABNJ for at least three reasons: because the regional level is today the most operational level; as progress made within regional frameworks could positively influence discussions at the international level; and if a multilateral agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on marine biodiversity in ABNJ is adopted in the future, it is likely to call for a role for the regional level. Therefore, the main issue raised in this study is the need to reinforce the regional level. In order to address this subject, the following study analyses five different regional frameworks, making the stake of the situation, highlighting the major gaps and identifying options to encompass them. The regions studied are the North-East Atlantic, the Southern Ocean, the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), the South West Pacific and the Wider Caribbean Region coupled with the Sargasso Sea.