On 13 July 2017, during the 4th meeting of the UN’s Preparatory Committee on BBNJ, a lunchtime side event presented a Policy Brief document titled Deep, distant and dynamic:  critical considerations for incorporating the open-ocean into a new BBNJ treaty. The side event was organised by The Nippon Foundation Nereus Program and the IUCN, andContinue Reading Open oceans Policy Brief presented at PrepCom4

Following the adoption by the Maritime Safety Committee of a new Area to be Avoided as an Associated Protective Measure, on 11 July 2017, the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) confirmed the final designation of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, situated in the Sulu Sea, Philippines as a Particularly Sensitive Sea AreaContinue Reading The IMO designates Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park as a PSSA

Research on deep-sea biodiversity partly supported by GOBI has recently been the focus of much attention, both in the scientific press and in mainstream media, as it is pertinent to the emerging industry of deep-sea mining for mineral resources.  Targeted minerals are used in the manufacture of computers and portable communication devices (phones and tablets). Continue Reading Deep-sea biodiversity in the spotlight

An unsuspecting Southern Giant Petrel has become the ten millionth record to be added to BirdLife’s Seabird Tracking Database – a significant and impressive milestone for the partnership, worthy of celebration.  The database was established by BirdLife in 2003 and has since grown into one of the largest conservation collaborations in the world, enabling scientistsContinue Reading BirdLife’s Seabird Tracking Database breaks new record

On World Ocean Day, 8 June 2017, the CBD Secretariat and GOBI co-hosted a side event at the UN Ocean Conference in New York titled ‘Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas: special places to accelerate implementation of SDG 14’. The event attracted a high level of interest, with standing room only left in the ConferenceContinue Reading EBSAs at the UN Ocean Conference

GOBI Coordinator David Johnson is asking United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to consider phasing out single-use plastics at the United Nations. Throughout the UN Ocean Conference (5-9 June 2017, New York), David has been asking participants to sign a letter of support that will be sent to the Secretary-General on Thursday 8 June 2017. As part ofContinue Reading GOBI Coordinator seeks alternatives to single-use plastics at the UN

GOBI representatives are attending the United Nations Ocean Conference in New York (5-9 June). The conference focuses attention on ocean pollution, overfishing and climate impacts and is calling on countries to set aside short-term gain to avoid catastrophe. Its main message is to promote the positive momentum generated by the adoption of the Paris AgreementContinue Reading UN Ocean Conference, 5-9 June 2017, New York

Baku, Azerbaijan, 24-27 April 2017 Thirty experts, supported by a technical team from Duke University and members of the CBD Secretariat, met in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 13th Regional EBSA Workshop on 24-27 April 2017. This workshop to describe EBSAs for the Black Sea and Caspian Sea recognised the unique nature of both Seas at aContinue Reading Regional EBSA workshop for the Black Sea and Caspian Sea

GOBI partner MarViva Foundation, in collaboration with Misión Tiburon and Mission Blue, has recently completed a successful high-seas research expedition to the Costa Rica Thermal Dome (CRTD). During the 2-vessel mission in early April 2017, plankton samples were collected from various depths in the water column, as well as water samples for the detection ofContinue Reading Successful expedition to the Costa Rica Thermal Dome

GOBI representatives joined other delegates at the third session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom3) on the Development of an International Legally Binding Instrument 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, which took place on 27 AprilContinue Reading PrepCom3: progress towards an internationally-binding legal instrument for BBNJ