A new stage of text-based negotiations for IGC3:
With the third Intergovernmental Conference (IGC3) session on a new international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) taking place from 19-30 August at UN Headquarters, we consider how far we have come (the first UN ad hoc open-ended working group on BBNJ convened in 2006), with an eye to the roadmap needed ahead so that the IGC can successfully conclude its work in 2020 with the adoption of a new ocean treaty that results in real legal protection for marine life in the High Seas.
We now enter a new stage, and for the first time, Member States will negotiate treaty text. The High Seas Alliance (HSA) welcomes the release of the President’s draft text in June and wishes to congratulate President Rena Lee and her team for this achievement. With only four weeks scheduled for remaining negotiations, there is still much work needed to complete the mandate of the Conference. HSA members have been working throughout the intersessional period with UN delegates, government officials, experts and stakeholders in numerous workshops and meetings to ensure that we make the most of the opportunity during IGC3. We have also developed our key recommendations on the President’s text [click here to read].