Through four discussion sessions, the 13th Ocean Dialogue discussed: (1) Key contents and prospects of the Agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement); (2) New prospects of deep-sea mining regulations; (3) Opportunities and challenges for international cooperation in the areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ); (4) Legal and policy recommendations to promote cooperation in exploitation and conservation in the ABNJ.
In his opening remarks for the 13th Ocean Dialogue, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam assessed that the BBNJ Agreement marked an important milestone in the development of the awareness of mankind, a great leap, from “exploiting first” to “conserving first”. Viet Nam has always expressed very strong support to the BBNJ Agreement and was one of the first countries to sign this document. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the entry of force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Dr. Nguyen Hung Son emphasized the primordial importance of UNCLOS - which serves as a bacon guiding our actions both in areas under national jurisdiction and those beyond national jurisdiction. Dr. Nguyen Hung Son said that the goal of the 13th Ocean Dialogue was to raise public awareness of policy makers as well as scientific and legal experts on the importance of the BBNJ Agreement.
Mr. Florian Feyerabend, Resident Representative, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Viet Nam, emphasized that UNCLOS set a foundation to guide cooperative efforts in protecting the ocean, promoting peace, prosperity and sustainability. The BBNJ Agreement is a testament to the international community's commitment to protecting marine biodiversity in international waters, and reflecting the common determination to bolster multilateralism and ensure a balance between exploitation and conservation. Germany is one of the first countries to sign the BBNJ Agreement, demonstrating Germany's commitment to international cooperation and sustainable use of marine resources.
In the keynote session, HE. Ms. Rena Lee, Singapore Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues, President of the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on the BBNJ
Agreement, said: After more than 20 years of discussion and negotiation, the BBNJ Agreement has been signed, but the international community still has a lot to do to move to a new chapter, first of which is the ratification for the Agreement to officially come into effect. Ambassador Rena Lee emphasized that one of the important contents in the BBNJ Agreement is international cooperation. Ensuring coordination between mechanisms within the BBNJ Agreement and other frameworks is extremely important.
According to experts, the BBNJ Agreement covers a number of important issues to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity such as marine genetic resources; areas-based management tools including marine protected areas (MPA); environmental impact assessment, capacity building and technology transfer. Regarding deep-sea mining, many experts shared about the existing frameworks regulating deep-sea mining activities, the role of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and Regional environmental management plans (REMPs) of ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission (LTC). There is opinion that the international community’s present awareness of the deep-sea ecosystem is insufficient. In order to carry out mining activities, it is necessary to develop and complete relevant regulations, based on scientific data, environmental impact assessments and the precautionary principle.
Assessing the impact of the BBNJ Agreement, experts said that the Agreement brought both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, the Agreement contributes to promoting international cooperation at the regional and global levels in many different fields. According to an Australian expert, the BBNJ Agreement will ensure freedom and the installation and repair of essential international submarine cables, create opportunities to enhance coordination between governments and submarine cable companies through commitments, dialogue and awareness. In the field of fisheries, some experts opined that it is necessary to promote coordination between existing frameworks. In the South China Sea, countries can enhance cooperation in the field of strategic environmental impact assessment, capacity building, technology transfer and marine science. An Indonesian expert believed that ASEAN could lead in deep-sea mining policy, based on its centrality and by focusing on the goal of ensuring sustainable resources.
Experts also reckoned that the BBNJ Agreement opened up ample opportunities for developing countries to equally access resources in international waters, build capacity and participate in global management of marine biodiversity. However, developing countries also face some limitations such as human or financial resources.
Majority believed that to ensure the goal of conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in implementation, the participation of all actors in the international community, not only the the government, scientists but also of international organizations (intergovernmental or non-governmental), the private sector such as international submarine cable companies, was needed.
Wrapping up the 13th Ocean Dialogue, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam highly appreciated the multi-dimensional and comprehensive discussions, contributing to raising understanding of the BBNJ Agreement. Through the discussion, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son believed that to prepare for the implementation of the convention, the international community needs a way creative way to cooperate,, synergize between current frameworks and mechanisms. In the future, it is also necessary to continue discussing the interpretation of the general principles and mechanisms provided for in the BBNJ Agreement and regulations on deep-sea mining, thereby seeking concrete measures for effective implementation../.
LH
Translated by LHND
Photo: DAV
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