Access to Marine Genetic Resources (MGR): Raising Awareness of Best-Practice Through a New Agreement for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)

Rabone, Muriel; Harden‐Davies, Harriet; Collins, Jane Eva; Zajderman, Sabine; Appeltans, Ward; Droege, Gabi; Brandt, Angelika; Pardo-López, Liliana; Dahlgren, Thomas G.; Glover, Adrian G.; Horton, Tammy

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00520

Cited by 44 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 129 publications

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“…Given the high degree of novel findings during work in the area over the most recent years, it is likely that they represent only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of potentially valuable genetic resources present in the AMOR region. Potential biodiversity loss from seabed mining (Niner et al, 2018), particularly in poorly investigated regions such as the AMOR, may result in the loss of biological knowledge, ecosystem services, and valuable marine genetic resources before we know them (Arrieta et al, 2010;Rabone et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

et al. 2020

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The Mohn's Treasure, described as an inactive sulfide mound, was discovered at 2,600m depth on the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge (AMOR) in 2002. In 2015, we conducted the first biological survey of Mohn's Treasure using remotely operated vehicle (ROV) photo transects and sampling. This site is covered by a thick layer of fine sediments, where hard substratum is only visible as rocky outcrops on ridges. The observed benthic community was typical of Arctic bathyal systems. A total of 46 species (identified as morphospecies) were recorded, with densities varying from 12.2 to 31.6 ind.m −2. The two most abundant phyla were Porifera and Echinodermata. The sediment is dominated by fields of the stalked crinoid Bathycrinus carpenterii, whereas areas of hard substratum were characterized by high abundances of several sponge species and associated fauna. Interest in commercial exploration and exploitation of minerals from massive sulfide deposits is rising globally, and the AMOR is being targeted for mineral exploration within Norwegian waters. Gathering baseline ecological data from these poorly known sites is thus urgent and essential if robust resource management measures are to be developed and implemented. The results of this ecological survey are discussed in relation to the designation of deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and their implication in management and conservation of areas targeted by the emerging deep-sea mining industry.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

et al. 2020

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“…Addressing these knowledge gaps could support informed decision-making across the BBNJ agreement, including use in environmental impact assessments and area-based management tools (Table 4), such as through conducting strategic environmental assessments. Crucially, this type of basic scientific research can also bring opportunities to derive and share benefits from marine genetic resources (Rabone et al, 2019). However, no single nation can address the major scientific knowledge gaps of BBNJ.…”

Section: Cooperation and Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Repeatable protocols and other such guidelines or manuals provide a hierarchy of methodologies appropriate for different levels of scientific capacity, and greater potential for quantitative comparisons among regions and jurisdictions. Several initiatives illustrate the ongoing efforts of the scientific community to streamline and standardize sampling protocols (Konar et al, 2010;Snelgrove, 2010;Woodall et al, 2018), support the acquisition, curation, storage, and sharing of samples and data in the context of genetic resources (Rabone et al, 2019), and international coordination of ocean best practices (Pearlman et al, 2019). In particular, the Global Ocean Observing Systems (GOOS) is developing shared "essential ocean variables" (EOVs) toward a more effective integrated ocean observing system that moves beyond piecemeal efforts, including biological and ecosystem variables (Muller-Karger et al, 2018) to support policy development (Miloslavich et al, 2018), capacity building (Bax et al, 2018), and open data (Bax et al, 2019).…”

Section: Cooperation and Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such sharing of information could also avoid duplication of initiatives and the targeting of capacity building to meet self-determined needs. Furthermore, despite its inherently cooperative activity, marine science currently lacks a central point to share information about activities, pointing to the utility of a portal to share information about marine scientific research activities linked to the clearinghouse mechanism (Rabone et al, 2019).…”

Section: Meeting Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Science Collaboration for Capacity Building: Advancing Technology Transfer Through a Treaty for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

Harden‐Davies

Snelgrove

2020

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Marine technology transfer and capacity building are key elements in the development of a historic new agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This vast, deep ocean area remains largely unexplored and poorly understood. Scientific knowledge gaps impede informed decision-making, and most countries lack the capacity to participate in ocean science activities in ABNJ or to benefit from discoveries of new ocean life, habitats, and processes. Consequently, science must play a central role in capacity building aspirations, however, the link between technology transfer and marine scientific research has yet to be examined in depth. Here, we examine the UNCLOS framework for marine technology transfer and highlight linkages with marine scientific research, identifying four capacity building themes: access to data, information and knowledge; equipment; training; and collaboration. We provide examples to illustrate current practices and identify gaps in implementation. We show that marine technology transfer and marine scientific research link in principle and in practice. We propose ways that the BBNJ agreement could strengthen the international framework for the transfer of marine technology in order to boost marine scientific research collaboration, fill knowledge gaps, and strengthen capacity through inclusive international participation.

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“…However, the provisions of CBD do not apply to areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) such as LOSC's Area. In an effort to close that gap, the delegates to an Intergovernmental Conference began in 2018 to negotiate an additional Implementing Agreement to LOSC which addresses conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ, with benefit‐sharing of marine genetic resources being a key topic for consideration (Rabone et al, 2019). Thus, the principle of benefit‐sharing, unlike the principle of CHM, is still currently being included in negotiations for a global treaty.…”

Section: Resource‐sharing and Benefit‐sharingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Offshore freshwater aquifers: Toward equitable distribution

Martin‐Nagle¹

2020

WIREs Water

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Legal principles and practices for determining ownership and control of seabed resources have been crafted and honed by various parties throughout the 20th century, often on an ad hoc basis to meet specific situations and sectoral needs. The legal landscape for offshore freshwater aquifers consequently spans domestic, regional, and international regimes, making the governance analysis for this untapped resource complex and multilayered. At the apex of ocean governance lies the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), a global treaty with almost universal application. Both LOSC and customary law grant each coastal state exclusive sovereign rights over seabed natural resources in its continental shelf, although those rights are limited by other legal commitments such as obligations to protect the environment. LOSC does not address transboundary resources, but early and sustained demand for offshore hydrocarbons caused that governance gap to be filled through judicial decisions, bi‐lateral treaties, and customary practices. Traditionally, distribution of natural resources has been viewed as a right commensurate with sovereign claims to the resource, but a strong ethical argument can be made for treating water as an exceptional case due to its uniquely life‐giving properties. When offshore freshwater is eventually appropriated for use, humanity will have an opportunity to choose between following old patterns of distribution or crafting a more inclusive system. In a world facing global shortages of freshwater due to pollution, overuse and climate change, policymakers designing a legal regime for untapped reservoirs of a vital resource for which there is no substitute should consider more equitable forms of distribution. Both Roman law and LOSC provide precedents for sharing natural resources, and the emerging trend of benefit‐sharing offers multiple and varied possibilities as well. This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water

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Access to Marine Genetic Resources (MGR): Raising Awareness of Best-Practice Through a New Agreement for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)

Cited by 44 publications

References 129 publications

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

Benthic Communities on the Mohn’s Treasure Mound: Implications for Management of Seabed Mining in the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge

Science Collaboration for Capacity Building: Advancing Technology Transfer Through a Treaty for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

Offshore freshwater aquifers: Toward equitable distribution

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