Following the UN Intergovernmental Conference’s (Conference) summer release of draft agreement text for an international legally binding instrument under the Law of the Sea Convention regarding the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the Conference last Wednesday issued revised draft agreement text. At the conclusion of the third conference in August, the President of the Council was asked to develop revised draft text to take into account comments made during the conference.
The text includes provisions related to area-based management measures including marine protected areas, international cooperation, environmental impact assessments, capacity building and transfer of marine technology, institutional arrangements, financial resources, marine genetic resources, implementation and compliance, and dispute settlement.
Delegations are invited to submit textual proposals by Feb. 3, 2020 for consideration at the fourth and final conference planned for the first half of 2020.
