The Law of the Sea and Marine Biodiversity Conservation
Expert-defined terms from the Postgraduate Certificate in Marine Environmental Law and Policy course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
ABNJ (Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) #
ABNJ (Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction)
Concept #
ABNJ refers to the parts of the ocean that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any one country. These areas make up about 64% of the world's oceans and are considered a global commons.
Challenges #
The conservation and management of biodiversity in ABNJ is complicated due to the lack of clear jurisdiction and the difficulty of enforcing regulations in these areas.
BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) #
BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction)
Concept #
BBNJ is a term used to describe the efforts to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity in ABNJ. This includes the development of an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Challenges #
The negotiations for the BBNJ agreement face challenges such as defining the rights and responsibilities of different actors, ensuring the participation of all relevant stakeholders, and addressing the needs of developing countries.
Biological Diversity #
Biological Diversity
Concept #
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity within species.
Challenges #
The loss of biodiversity is a major global concern due to the impacts on ecosystems, human livelihoods, and the economy. The main drivers of biodiversity loss are habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) #
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
Concept #
The CBD is an international treaty aimed at sustaining the diverse forms of life on Earth. It has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Challenges #
The CBD faces challenges in meeting its goals, including insufficient funding, lack of political will, and conflicting interests between countries.
Conservation #
Conservation
Concept #
Conservation refers to the protection, restoration, and management of natural resources and ecosystems to maintain their biodiversity, productivity, and capacity to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Challenges #
The challenge of conservation is to balance the needs of human societies with the need to protect and preserve the natural world.
Deep Seabed #
Deep Seabed
Concept #
The deep seabed refers to the parts of the ocean floor that are beyond the continental shelf and deeper than 200 meters. These areas are rich in minerals, but also host unique and fragile ecosystems.
Challenges #
The challenge of managing the deep seabed is to balance the potential economic benefits of seabed mining with the need to protect and conserve the unique ecosystems found in these areas.
EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) #
EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)
Concept #
The EEZ is a zone of jurisdiction that extends 200 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state. Within this zone, the coastal state has the right to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources, including living and non-living resources.
Challenges #
The challenge of managing the EEZ is to ensure the sustainable use of resources while also protecting the environment and the rights of other users of the ocean.
High Seas #
High Seas
Concept #
The high seas refer to the parts of the ocean that are beyond the jurisdiction of any one country and beyond the EEZ of coastal states. These areas are considered a global commons.
Challenges #
The conservation and management of biodiversity in the high seas is complicated due to the lack of clear jurisdiction and the difficulty of enforcing regulations in these areas.
ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) #
ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas)
Concept #
ICCAT is a regional fisheries management organization established in 1969 to manage tuna and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean.
Challenges #
ICCAT faces challenges in ensuring the sustainable management of tuna and tuna-like species, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfishing, and bycatch.
ILBI (International Legally Binding Instrument) #
ILBI (International Legally Binding Instrument)
Concept #
An ILBI is a legally binding agreement that is being negotiated under the auspices of the UN to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity in ABNJ.
Challenges #
The challenge of negotiating an ILBI is to define the rights and responsibilities of different actors, ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders, and address the needs of developing countries.
ISA (International Seabed Authority) #
ISA (International Seabed Authority)
Concept #
The ISA is an international organization established under UNCLOS to regulate and manage the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the deep seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Challenges #
The challenge of managing seabed mining is to balance the potential economic benefits with the need to protect and conserve the unique ecosystems found in these areas.
Marine Biodiversity #
Marine Biodiversity
Concept #
Marine biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the ocean, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity within species.
Challenges #
The loss of marine biodiversity is a major global concern due to the impacts on ecosystems, human livelihoods, and the economy. The main drivers of marine biodiversity loss are habitat destruction, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change.
MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) #
MPAs (Marine Protected Areas)
Concept #
MPAs are designated areas of the ocean that are protected and managed to conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem services, and promote sustainable use.
Challenges #
The challenge of managing MPAs is to ensure their effectiveness in achieving conservation goals while also addressing the needs of local communities and other stakeholders.
RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organizations) #
RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organizations)
Concept #
RFMOs are international organizations established to manage and conserve fish stocks in a particular region.
Challenges #
RFMOs face challenges in ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks, including IUU fishing, overfishing, and bycatch.
Seabed Mining #
Seabed Mining
Concept #
Seabed mining refers to the extraction of mineral resources from the deep seabed, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Challenges #
The challenge of managing seabed mining is to balance the potential economic benefits with the need to protect and conserve the unique ecosystems found in these areas.
Sustainable Use #
Sustainable Use
Concept #
Sustainable use refers to the use of natural resources and ecosystems in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Challenges #
The challenge of sustainable use is to balance the needs of human societies with the need to protect and preserve the natural world.
UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) #
UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)
Concept #
UNCLOS is an international treaty that governs the uses of the ocean and its resources. It establishes the rights and responsibilities of states in their use of the ocean, including the delimitation of maritime zones, the conservation and management of living resources, and the protection of the marine environment.
Challenges #
UNCLOS faces challenges in its implementation, including the need for cooperation and coordination between states, the need to address new and emerging issues, and the need to ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders.