Implementation of the BBNJ treaty

The Ocean University initiative and UMR AMURE research teams are involved in the implemention of the BBNJ Agreement on Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction, aimed at improving governance and conservation on the high seas. Following the adoption of this historic UN agreement in 2023, the research teams are focusing on studying the legal issues linked to its effective implementation, generating new knowledge on biodiversity hotspots on the high seas, and transmitting knowledge through data sharing and training for different audiences.

The teams work interdisciplinarily and with various institutions and international sectoral organizations (universities, NGOs, UN bodies, RFMOs, etc.). These activities have led to the emergence of several research projects.

• The SARGADOM project (2021-2027), led by the UBO, supported by the FFEM and the OFB, and in collaboration with international conservation organizations – such as the Sargasso Sea Commission and the MarViva NGO operating in Central America – aims to develop hybrid governance models (regional and international) to protect the biodiversity of two particular areas of the high seas: the Sargasso Sea and the Thermal Dome. Through a coordinated approach involving ecosystem analyses (DPSIR approach for Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses), stakeholder consultations and capacity building, SARGADOM is studying proposals for managing environmental pressures and guiding sustainable governance.
• The Navigating the BBNJ Agreement (2023-2024) project consisted of a two-year research cycle bringing together eight French researchers in international law to study the legal issues involved in implementing the BBNJ Agreement (on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction). Through three collaborative seminars and a final colloquium, the team analyzed the challenges of implementing this agreement in a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on the expertise of French and international specialists in both the social and natural sciences.

International context

This work is part of a worldwide dynamic. The preparatory phase for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is underway, and requires ratification by at least 60 countries. As of September 2023, 105 countries have already signed the BBNJ Agreement. The efforts of the scientific community will provide baseline data and operational recommendations for the future Conference of the Parties (COP) under the BBNJ Agreement. These data will support the establishment of marine protected areas, sustainable resource management and comprehensive governance strategies essential to maintaining marine biodiversity.

France, which will host the United Nations Conference in Nice in 2025, is mobilizing to ensure that the agreement comes into force by then.

Scientific perspectives

• Informing decision-makers on implementation issues: through interdisciplinary research, the teams provide essential scientific information to guide policies for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems. Combining ecological, economic and social sciences, they develop in-depth analyses of ecosystem status and dynamics, to help governments make informed decisions on marine management measures.
• Identifying legal and practical challenges: researchers examine the legal complexities involved in regulating biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, integrating the legal advances needed to meet transboundary environmental challenges. Working with institutional players, they study regulatory frameworks and practical solutions for the conservation of marine resources.
• Creating training and capacity-building materials: to ensure a broad understanding of the issues at stake in the BBNJ Agreement, the teams are developing training materials for decision-makers and conservation professionals. This training will be essential to prepare the various players for the implementation of the agreement, by developing technical and legal expertise that will facilitate the ratification process and the sustainable management of activities in international areas.
• Acquiring new data within the DPSIR framework: through the DPSIR approach, teams will gather precise data on threats to deep-sea ecosystems. These data are analyzed to provide a sound basis for future conservation policies, enabling decision-makers to better understand the effects of human activities and identify appropriate responses for the protection of marine biodiversity.

These collaborations respond to an international will to adapt governance of the high seas to ecological boundaries, not just political ones, enabling ecosystem-based management of these vast and vital maritime zones. For more details, explore the work in progress on the project websites or follow the progress of ratification (see resources listed in the blue insert).