Ninth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ)

On Friday, the ninth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ) concluded.

After a brief morning plenary session, delegates met informally throughout the day to work toward consensus wording for draft recommendations on a future intergovernmental conference. Co-Chair Palitha Kohona (Sri Lanka) formally suspended plenary at 5:10pm to allow for informal discussions on outstanding issues. Negotiations continued informally until 2:05am on Saturday morning, at which time the final paragraphs of text were agreed. Plenary resumed to adopt the draft recommendations, after which Co-Chair Kohona declared the meeting closed at 2:56am.

Full web coverage available here: 23 Jan

On Thursday, the Working Group started negotiations, paragraph by paragraph, on the draft offered by New Zealand and Mexico as Co-Facilitators of Wednesday's informal group, with Co-Chair Lijnzaad underscoring “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” The Working Group debated text on, inter alia: the legal gap relating to the conservation and sustainable use of BBNJ; the feasibility of a new international instrument; and the position of states non-party to UNCLOS.

In the afternoon, the Working Group debated a proposal by the G-77/China on the format and timelines for a negotiating process towards a legally binding instrument under UNCLOS. Negotiations on a revised working document continued in an evening session.

Full web coverage available here: 22 Jan

On Wednesday morning, the Working Group continued exchanging views on a Co-Chairs’ non-paper containing draft elements for recommendations to the General Assembly. The G-77/China, the EU, Mexico, and New Zealand tabled written proposals.

An informal group met at lunchtime to develop an informal working paper as a basis for negotiations in plenary. In the afternoon, delegates briefly discussed a draft document offered by New Zealand and Mexico as co-facilitators of the informal group. The Working Group meeting was then suspended to allow for consultations on the new draft.

Full web coverage available here: 21 Jan

The ninth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ) opened on Tuesday, 20 January 2015, at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Delegates heard opening statements, addressed organizational matters and delivered general statements. In the afternoon, no delegation offered further views on the scope, parameters and feasibility of a new international instrument on BBNJ, so delegates started exchanging views on a Co-Chairs' non-paper containing draft elements for recommendation to the General Assembly, which had been circulated to national delegations in December 2014.

Full web coverage available here: 20 Jan