Background Release

General Assembly Working Group to Consider Legal Framework for Conservation,

 

Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

 

NEW YORK, 4 May (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) ― A Working Group established by the United Nations General Assembly will meet from 7 to 11 May in New York to discuss the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

During the upcoming meeting, the Working Group would address, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 66/231, the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.  The process will identify gaps and ways forward, including through the implementation of existing legal instruments and the possible development of a multilateral agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It will also address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, in particular, together and as a whole, marine genetic resources, including questions on the sharing of benefits, measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and environmental impact assessments, capacity-building, and the transfer of marine technology.

The General Assembly decided that this process would take place within the Working Group and in the format of inter-sessional workshops aimed at improving understanding of the issues and clarifying key questions as an input to the work of the Working Group.

Held during the year marking the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, this meeting presents a unique opportunity for the Working Group to strengthen efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

The General Assembly set up the Working Group in 2004 in response to growing concerns within the international community regarding the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.

As noted in the Secretary-General’s report (document A/66/70), the importance of marine biodiversity, including beyond areas of national jurisdiction, for global food security, healthy functioning marine ecosystems, economic prosperity and sustainable livelihoods cannot be overstated.  However, the cumulative impacts of human uses and human-induced environmental changes, such as climate change and ocean acidification, continue to take their toll on vital marine ecosystems.  Therefore, further actions and cross-sectoral cooperative mechanisms are necessary to understand and address the impacts of various sectors on marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

The General Assembly is, through its Working Group, the global forum with a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral perspective, and competence on all issues related to marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.  It is, therefore, uniquely placed to review the measures necessary to ensure an effective legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of that biodiversity.

Relevant documents

General Assembly resolutions A/RES/59/24, A/RES/60/30, A/RES/61/222, A/RES/62/215, A/RES/63/111, A/RES/64/71, A/RES/65/37A and A/RES/66/231; Secretary-General reports A/60/63/Add.1; A/62/66/Add.2;, A/64/66/Add.2; A/66/70; Provisional agenda of the meeting, document A/AC.276/L.7; Draft format and draft annotated provisional agenda and organization of work, document A/AC/276/L.8; Outcomes of the previous meetings of the Working Group, document A/61/65; A/63/79; A/65/68; A/66/119.

For any additional information, please visit the website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, at:  www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record