A strategy for the conservation of biodiversity on mid-ocean ridges from deep-sea mining has finally been published after three years in the making (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar4313).  Led by GOBI partners at Duke University and in collaboration with over 50 experts in the fields of environmental law, deep-sea ecology, oceanography, climate change and mathematical modelling, the article setsContinue Reading Conserving biodiversity on the mid-Atlantic ridge

A side event, jointly organised by CBD Secretariat and GOBI on the first day of CBD SBSTTA 22 (2-7 July 2018), entitled “EBSAs: Scientific Achievements and Paving the Future”, presented key results of the CBD Expert Workshop to Develop Options for Modifying the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), for Describing New Areas,Continue Reading EBSAs into the future – side event at CBD SBSTTA 22

Under the Chairmanship of Mr Moustafa Fouda (Minister Advisor on Biodiversity Nature Conservation Sector, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency) the first meeting of the CBD Informal Advisory Group on EBSAs took place on 30 June-1 July 2018.  The mandate for this Group, which reports directly to the CBD Executive Secretary, was set out by CBD COP13Continue Reading First meeting of the CBD Informal Advisory Group on EBSAs

On the 27-28 June 2018, GOBI is heading to Nausicaá at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France’s National Sea Centre and Europe’s largest aquarium, to take part in the High Seas International Conference.  The event is co-organised with l’Agence Française pour la Biodiversité (AFB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Ocean Forum, The UnitedContinue Reading GOBI at NAUSICAÁ

GOBI wishes all its partners, associates and followers a happy World Oceans Day.  To mark the occasion, here’s a summary of the latest results from our ongoing research programme. Our colleagues at CSIRO, Australia, are forging ahead with the development of novel statistical approaches to identify and delineate biogeographic units in the Indian and southwesternContinue Reading Happy World Oceans Day 2018!

It has been ten years since GOBI was established to support the process under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to describe ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs).  In that time, whilst continuing to support the CBD, GOBI’s remit has expanded, gaining new partner organisations and generating scientific evidence in support for the conservationContinue Reading GOBI marks its 10th anniversary at the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity

The latest edition of the GOBI newsletter is now available (download here).  In it, GOBI looks back at its first decade of achievements, supporting the CBD in its description of ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSAs) and initiating an ambitious and interdisciplinary programme of research to further promote the conservation of marine biodiversity.  Selected GOBIContinue Reading 10th birthday GOBI newsletter launched – Spring 2018

On 12 March in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo), Sabah’s Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment YBhg. Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai attended the opening of a workshop to identify Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in the Northeast Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Seas.  The workshop has 35 participants from 16Continue Reading Second IMMA workshop is underway in Malaysia

The successful completion of the 14th CBD regional EBSA workshop targeting the Baltic Sea (19-24th February 2018) represents a major milestone in the EBSA process, having now covered all of its intended world oceans and seas (excluding the Southern Ocean).  During the workshop, representatives from most Baltic States – brought together by the Baltic MarineContinue Reading Baltic Sea EBSA workshop completes global coverage

Ongoing research supported by the GOBI-IKI project has contributed to the publication of a seminal article on the scientific rationale for the protection of active hydrothermal vent ecosystems from deep-sea mining.  The article summarises the ecological vulnerability of such ecosystems whilst emphasising the societal value of vents remaining untouched, as they represent a library ofContinue Reading Protecting hydrothermal vents from mining