The Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) is a global partnership that aims to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goal 14 on marine and coastal biodiversity. Among its objectives, the SOI works to develop partnerships among different stakeholders and sectors at global, regional and local scales. The SOI Global Dialogues provide the opportunity for a range of stakeholders to learn about cross-sectoral cooperation at the regional scale, discuss emerging initiatives on regional Ocean governance, and share lessons learned and case studies related to regional cooperation.

The 3rd Meeting of the SOI Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations (RSOs) and Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) convened under the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the theme “forging a new era of regional leadership in the post-2020 world.”

Following agreement on objectives, outputs, and potential outcomes, the meeting considered:

• a progress report of activities undertaken since the second meeting of the SOI Global Dialogue with RSOs and RFBs, held in April 2018;
• roles of, and opportunities for, regional organizations and regional collaboration in the development and implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework;
• identification of opportunities for concrete implementation and follow-up from the SOI Global Dialogue through developing regional roadmaps and priority actions; and
• enhancing the impact of the SOI Global Dialogue with RSOs and RFBs.

During the panel discussion on cross-sectoral cooperation at the regional scale and inputs to relevant global processes, RSO and RFB representatives responded to questions related to:

• cross-sectoral collaboration at the regional scale to enhance efforts towards global goals, including through:
  • sustainable ecosystem-based management of fisheries and impacts of fisheries on ecosystems;
  • managing pressures interacting with the effects of climate change and ocean acidification;
  • controlling pollution;
  • area-based management; and
  • protection of threatened species and habitats;
• cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination that have been tailored to the specific circumstances of regions;
• practical experiences and/or lessons learnt to share on interregional cooperative initiative;
• cooperation on science, technical or regulatory aspects between relevant regional bodies and organisations;
• whether regional dialogue led to enhanced parallel activities or joint activities.

The 3rd Meeting of the SOI Global Dialogue with RSOs and RFBs convened from 25-28 October 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin provided daily web coverage of the proceedings, as well as a summary following the conclusion of the meeting.

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