1 August, 2016
1 August, 2016
As the best practical way to give effect to the commitment in UNGA Resolution 69/292 to include ‘environmental impact assessments’ as one of the issues to be included in an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
Download paper prepared for the second BBNJ Prep Com by WWF, August 2016
1 August, 2016
Download paper by Duncan E.J. Currie, August 2016, here.
1 March, 2016
The principles set out in this document reflect States’ existing international obligations under UNCLOS and other international instruments as well as global norms relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
1 March, 2016
On June 19 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 69/292 in which it decided to develop an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The resolution provides for a preparatory committee “to make substantive recommendations to the General Assembly on the elements of a draft text” of the instrument. The High Seas Alliance submits the following suggestions for consideration by the Preparatory Committee.
Download Submission for PrepCom1, here.
High Seas Environmental Impact Assessments – Pew Briefing
Marine Protected Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – Pew Briefing
Interventions delivered:
March 28th:
March 29th:
- Pew, Greenpeace, NRDC on behalf of HSA – statement on scope
- Pew, Greenpeace, NRDC on behalf of HSA – statement on principles
March 30th:
March 31st:
- Pew, Greenpeace, WWF, NRDC on behalf of HSA – statement on EIA
- Greenpeace, Pew, WWF, NRDC on behalf of HSA – statement on capacity-building & transfer of marine technology
April 1st:
April 4th:
- NRDC on behalf of HSA – WG statement on EIA and scope
- Pew, Greenpeace, NRDC, WWF, OceanCare on behalf of HSA – WG statement on EIA
April 5th:
April 6th:
1 March, 2015
A white paper outlining governance principles relevant to the proposed international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It describes the proposed principles, with an Annex containing excerpts from key international instruments and agreements as precedents for the application of the principle in multilateral instruments. It also sets out ways the principles may be operationalized in the international instrument. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate discussion on some of the fundamental operating and governance principles that may be needed to translate specific operational objectives of any new agreement into established practice.
Duncan E. J. Currie February 2016
19 June, 2014
From 16-19 June 2014, governments will gather for the second intersessional “BBNJ” meeting of the UN Working Group to discuss a new high seas biodiversity agreement under UNCLOS. Delegations will discuss the scope and parameters of such an agreement including the legal and regulatory gaps that have resulted in a fragmented approach to ocean governance. Please see the attached Summary and Overview of Legal, Regulatory and Implementation Gaps in the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Marine Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.
1 May, 2014
The Tenth Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is meeting at the United Nations in New York from 31 March-4 April.
The High Seas Alliance and Deep Sea Conservation Coalition have made a submission on proposed elements for inclusion in an Ocean SDG: achieve healthy, productive and resilient oceans.
Produced by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, High Seas Alliance
Download PDF, here.
4 April, 2014
From 1-4 April 2014, governments will gather at the United Nations in New York, for ground-breaking discussions on whether to launch negotiations for a new High Seas biodiversity agreement under UNCLOS. These discussions will continue at the UN from 16-19 June, with a focus on the ‘scope, parameters and feasibility’ of a new implementing agreement.
The High Seas Alliance has released a series of policy briefs to coincide with these UN intersessional meetings:
HSA Briefing 1: About the High Seas Alliance
HSA Briefing 2: The Need for a New Implementing Agreement Under UNCLOS on Marine Biodiversity of the High Seas
HSA Briefing 3: Equity, Food Security and Capacity-building
HSA Briefing 4: Wonders of the High Seas
4 April, 2014
To address the issue of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, States agreed to take a decision on the development of a new international instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group will take place from 1 to 4 April 2014. In advance of that meeting, Member States have been invited to submit by 28 February 2014 their views on the scope, parameters and feasibility of such an international instrument under UNCLOS.
See HSA’s Policy Recommendations: English French Brazilian Portuguese Arabic Spanish