Amid the ongoing challenges to our ocean's health, an event took place virtually on 1-3 August 2023—the Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fisheries Bodies. This gathering served as a platform for representatives from various regional and international organisations to review progress, foster cooperation, and discuss the implementation of critical global environmental agreements.
During the workshop, representatives from Regional Seas Programmes, Regional Fisheries Bodies, and several international organisations converged to share their experiences in collaborating to address marine pollution, fisheries management, and other ocean conservation challenges. Key players exchanged valuable insights, including representatives from the Western Indian Ocean and adjacent areas, the Wider Caribbean, East Atlantic African Region, North Atlantic, Baltic & Mediterranean, Pacific Ocean Basins, and South and Southeast Asia. The North-West Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP) also presented updates on its partnership with the North Pacific Marine Science Organisation (PICES) and shared pertinent publications addressing the critical issue of marine litter—a growing global concern.
The United Nations Environment Programme provided an update on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee's efforts to develop an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, explicitly focusing on marine environments. Participants acknowledged the pivotal role of both Regional Sea Organisations and Regional Fisheries Bodies in implementing this instrument.
The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, United Nations, introduced 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). With conservation efforts gaining global momentum, the workshop participants engaged in collaborative brainstorming sessions to strategise the implementation of this landmark agreement.
Delving into biodiversity conservation, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity elaborated on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Through discussions, workshop attendees explored ways to harmonise regional goals and targets with the global framework, strongly emphasising comprehensive assessment and monitoring strategies, capacity building, and garnering political attention to support biodiversity conservation.
The Intersessional Workshop of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative stands as a testament to the power of global cooperation in addressing complex environmental challenges.
