Countries are currently negotiating a comprehensive global binding treaty at the United Nations to better protect biodiversity in the high seas (referred to from here as “the Treaty”). Developing a governance framework for the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources (MGRs) of the high seas (or areas beyond national jurisdiction, referred to from here as “ABNJ”) is a crucial element of the proposed treaty. Negotiating countries' positions on MGRs vary widely, ranging from no regulation to the establishment of a new global regulatory mechanism. For the scientists who may be involved with collecting MGRs in ABNJ, the Treaty could impact their research activities, including mandatory precollection notification. There could also be new requirements for daily research activities associated with utilizing physical materials collected in ABNJ or data generated from such materials. For indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) that may hold relevant traditional knowledge, the Treaty could ensure their rights to prior, free, and informed consent and the use of mutually agreed terms. The scientific community and IPLC have an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders to increase the chances that any new requirements will be practical, remain relevant in decades to come, and provide a platform that will foster research, collaboration, and marine biological diversity conservation.
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