Our mission is to deepen stakeholders' understanding of the historic BBNJ Treaty by providing objective and science-based information about the fair and equitable sharing of benefits associated with marine genetic resources.
The purpose of this website is to provide objective information on the best scientific practices and considerations on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities that hold relevant traditional knowledge associated with marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction in the context of the the new historic agreement to conserve and sustainably use the marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty).
The content of the website is written in a manner that is accessible to the policymakers who are interested in the BBNJ Treaty. It was created in collaboration with scientists, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as policy and legal experts who volunteered their time.
Humankind has Always Depended on the Ocean
But the ocean has suffered unprecedented degradation.
There has never been a more important time than now for scientists to continue to discover new species and to find innovative ways to use marine resources to benefit humankind and biodiversity.
Researchers have markedly advanced our scientific understanding of the ocean and its role in Earth’s past, present, and future. Increased collaboration among scientists, globally, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and local communities who hold traditional knowledge associated with marine genetic resources (MGRs) of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) can accelerate scientific discoveries, with benefits to humankind and biodiversity. Today, we are at crossroads: The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty) could promote the conservation and sustainable use of the largest ecosystem of the Earth, which in turn would benefit the biosphere including all of humankind. The new governance regime of ABNJ is critical, given the massive and accelerating "biological diversity loss and degradation of ecosystems of the ocean, due, in particular, to climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, such as warming and ocean deoxygenation, as well as ocean acidification, pollution, including plastic pollution, and unsustainable use." BBNJ Treaty, Preamble.
BBNJ Treaty
Explore how the BBNJ Treaty will change the governance of marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction, the largest eccosystem of the Earth.
MGR Mechanism Considerations
Explore practical aspects of benefit sharing associated with marine gentic resources (MGRs) of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) pursuant to the BBNJ Treaty.
We believe that the BBNJ Treaty, which reflects the best practices of scientists and honors the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities that hold relevant traditional knowledge, will achieve its goal of conservation and sustainable use of the largest ecosystem of the Earth.