3rd Session of the Preparatory Committee Established by the UN General Assembly Resolution 69/292 “Development of 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”

On Thursday, 6 April, the plenary of the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) met throughout the day. Delegates continued discussions on environmental impact assessments, and then tackled capacity building and technology transfer, and cross-cutting issues, including institutional arrangements, monitoring, review, compliance and dispute settlement.

On Wednesday, 5 April, the plenary of the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened throughout the day.

On area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), delegates discussed three options: a global model, establishing a global institution to consider and decide on ABMT proposals; a hybrid model, reinforcing regional and sectoral organizations’ mandates through regional coordination mechanisms, and providing global guidance to enhance cooperation and global-level implementation oversight; and a regional and sectoral model, recognizing regional and sectoral bodies’ authority for decision making, monitoring and review of ABMTs with the ILBI providing general policy guidance to promote cooperation, without global-level oversight. On environmental impact assessments (EIAs), delegates discussed: assessing transboundary impacts, strategic environmental assessments, scientific review and consultation, other governance aspects and a clearinghouse mechanism.

On Tuesday, 4 April, delegates to the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened in plenary in the morning and in the afternoon, with the informal working group on cross-cutting issues completing its work in the morning.

In the morning, Amb. Peter Thomson (Fiji), UN General Assembly President, encouraged delegates to bring cooperation, flexibility and determination to the BBNJ process and to participate in the upcoming Oceans Conference, stressing the importance of the BBNJ process in oceans stewardship. In the afternoon, plenary further discussed the scope of benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources, as well as access and benefit-sharing modalities.

On Monday, 3 April, delegates to the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened in the informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer (CB&TT) in the morning. The informal working group on cross-cutting issues, facilitated by Chair Sobral Duarte, met for the rest of the day, addressing the scope of a new legally binding instrument, its relationship with other instruments and its possible institutional arrangements.

On Friday, 31 March, delegates to the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened in the informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer throughout the day. Discussions focused on: scope, principles and modalities of capacity building and technology transfer; links with other elements of a new legally binding instrument; intellectual property rights; a clearinghouse mechanism; funding; and monitoring and review.

On Friday, 31 March, delegates to the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) convened in the informal working group on capacity building and technology transfer throughout the day. Discussions focused on: scope, principles and modalities of capacity building and technology transfer; links with other elements of a new legally binding instrument; intellectual property rights; a clearinghouse mechanism; funding; and monitoring and review.

On Wednesday, 29 March, delegates to the the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) reconvened in the informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). The informal working group focused on: definitions; process, including submission of proposals, assessment, review and monitoring; and approaches and principles. In the afternoon, following a short plenary, the informal working group on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) started its work.

On Tuesday, 28 March, delegates to the the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) reconvened in the informal working group on marine genetic resources in the morning. Deliberations focused on benefit-sharing modalities and on the possible establishment of a clearinghouse. Following a brief plenary, the informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), convened in the afternoon, focusing on objectives and definitions.

On Tuesday, 28 March, delegates to the the third session of the Preparatory Committee on the elements of a draft text of an international legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (PrepCom 3) reconvened in the informal working group on marine genetic resources in the morning. Deliberations focused on benefit-sharing modalities and on the possible establishment of a clearinghouse. Following a brief plenary, the informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), convened in the afternoon, focusing on objectives and definitions.