IUCN

Marine resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are under increasing pressure from human impacts, putting at risk biodiversity, ecosystem processes and function. There is a heightened focus on whether current arrangements and policies are adequate. This paper explores possible elements of a new instrument to protect such biodiversity – an Implementation Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This paper contains a case study on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in the part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) that is located in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The purpose of this paper is to review the scope and functioning of applicable regional regimes and to identify if, and what kind of, regulatory and/or governance gaps exist. The case study complements and should be read in conjunction with the other three studies in this Marine Series.

The second paper in this marine series builds on the complementary study described in Marine Series No. 1 that identified several significant regulatory and governance gaps in the international regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

Sixty-four percent of the world ocean lies in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The first paper in this four-part series was prepared to address the question of whether there is a regulatory or governance gap in the international regime for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) and, if so, how it should be addressed. The study reveals that important regulatory and governance gaps still exist.

Más del 70% de la tierra está cubierta por océanos y mares mayores y hay más de 1,6 millones de kilómetros de costa. Sin embargo, nuestro mundo marino está en peligro: la peor amenaza es la de las especies marinas invasoras. El folleto no presenta información nueva o primordial, sino más bien una síntesis de las cuestiones y tendencias actuales, incluyendo varios ejemplos de algunas de las peores especies marinas invasoras, su propagación e impacto.

Plus de 70% de la terre sont couverts par les océans et les mers les plus importantes, et l’on compte plus de 1,6 million de kilomètres de côtes. Mais notre monde marin est en danger : la menace la plus insidieuse est celle que causent les espèces invasives marines.

More than 70% of the earth is covered by oceans and major seas and there are more than 1.6 million kilometres of coastline. Yet our marine world is under threat: the most insidious is the one posed by marine invasive species. This booklet does not present new or primary information, but rather a synthesis of current issues and trends, including several examples of some of the worst marine invasive species, their spread and impact.

Investment in sustainable ecosystem management can offer cost-effective solutions to reducing community vulnerability to disasters. Healthy ecosystems are beneficial to local populations for the many benefits and products they provide, whilst acting as natural buffers to hazard events for flood abatement, slope stabilization, coastal protection and avalanche protection.