Highlights and images for 27 August 2019

Summary

Highlights for Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Long-legged spider crab from Cuba, photo by Marcelo Halpern

The third session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) met in an informal working group on area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). Delegates also met in three “informal-informals” to continue discussing aspects related to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), marine genetic resources (MGRs), including questions on the sharing of benefits, and cross-cutting issues. In their discussions, delegates broached what some have characterized as “sticky” issues. Highlights of the day included:

  • Informal-informals on EIAs, which focused on cumulative and transboundary impacts;
  • Informal-informals on MGRs, especially addressing intellectual property rights within the new High Seas agreement; 
  • Informal-informals on cross-cutting issues, specifically related to financial resources; and
  • Discussions in the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs, related to the proponent and content of ABMT proposals.
  • In the corridors, some were concerned that “we have forgotten why we are here,” noting the need for the new High Seas agreement to conserve marine biodiversity and, in many cases, give it a chance to regenerate. “Look up from the text,” urged one delegate, emphasizing that the existing governance regime is “fragmented and not fit for purpose,” and rallying delegates to adopt a strong High Seas treaty to address the current gaps.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

    IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from BBNJ IGC-3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.

    Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon

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    Informal Working Group
    Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs
    Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS)
    Janine Coye-Felson, Belize, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM )
    Alain Tellier, Canada
    Teresa Cruz Sardiñas, Cuba
    Ramon van Barneveld, EU
    Ana Villalobos, Costa Rica
    Saravanane Narayanane, India
    Sarah Weiss Ma'udi, Israel
    Hussain Sinan, Maldives
    Delegates from New Zealand in consultation
    Jean Kenfack, Cameroon
    Huang Yingni, China
    Matthías Pálsson, Iceland
    Alex Macdonald, New Zealand
    Kjell Kristian Egge, Norway
    Kristina Gjerde, IUCN
    Florian Botto, Monaco
    Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines
    Takehiro Nakamura, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
    Aysecan Crabtree, Turkey
    Milinda Gunetilleke, Sri Lanka
    Sira Swangsilpa, Thailand
    Willington Rentería, Ecuador
    Ryan Keightley, Australia
    L-R: IGC President Rena Lee, Singapore; Alice Revell, New Zealand, Facilitator of the informal working group on ABMTs, including MPAs; and Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, UNDOALOS
    L-R: Generoso Calonge, the Philippines, conferrring with Desirée Eve Maaño, the Philippines
    L-R: Matthías Pálsson, Iceland, in conversation with Susan Whelan, Holy See
    Participants from the Strong High Seas Project

    Participants