The Winter 2022 edition of the GOBI newsletter is now out! In it you can read all about GOBI’s participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15), the latest results from the process for identifying Important Marine Mammal Areas, progress towards the protection of the Southern Ocean, BirdLife International’s centenaryContinue Reading GOBI newsletter – Winter 2022

Thirty-six new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) have been uploaded to the IMMA e-Atlas. They are located in the South East Tropical and Temperate Pacific Ocean from northern Mexico to the southern tip of Chile, and are the result of an intensive week-long workshop in San José, Costa Rica (June 2022). Besides the 36 newContinue Reading New IMMAs declared

GOBI Coordinator, Prof. David Johnson, has attended the third Sustainable Oceans Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue meeting in Busan, South Korea.  The focus of the meeting was to build partnerships and enhance the capacity of regional seas organisations and regional fishery bodies to conserve and sustainably use marine and coastal biodiversity. Participants recognised that marine biodiversity isContinue Reading GOBI at Sustainable Ocean Initiative Global Dialogue

Before NOAA’s oceanic expedition ‘Voyage to the Ridge 2022’ aboard the research vessel Okeanos Explorer took a logistical break from its schedule, followers of its live ROV webcasts were treated to a fascinating ascent along the Western Kane Transform Fault on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Expert commentators described unique geology and identified bizarre creatures as theyContinue Reading To the Ridge and beyond!

Australia has over 30% of its national waters designated as Marine Parks, recognising that they are worthy of protection for nature conservation.  However, like many other such similar areas across national and international waters, there is limited scope to measure and monitor their effectiveness as areas of conservation, or mechanisms by which to improve their efficacy.  AContinue Reading Australia pilots new marine monitoring programme

After months of meticulous and inclusive planning, the long-awaited NOAA oceanic expedition ‘Voyage to the Ridge 2022’ is underway aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, with the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge in its sights.  The target and timing of the expedition could not be better, as the governance and management of the ocean above the northern Mid-Atlantic RidgeContinue Reading Voyage to the Ridge 2022

The Summer edition of the GOBI Newsletter is out now, just in time for the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon. As well as an update on GOBI’s own research – with a focus on stocktaking, partnerships and solutions – it includes news from the wider partnership, ranging from the evolution of the EBSA process inContinue Reading New GOBI Newsletter out now!

The resumption of international travel and in-person meetings has enabled the completion of the last (of the five scheduled) GOBI-sponsored regional IMMA workshop, targeting the South East Tropical and Temperate Pacific Ocean.  This IMMA region comprises 24% of the Pacific Ocean, and nearly half of the world’s whale, dolphin, porpoise, seal, sea lion and otter speciesContinue Reading Covid-postponed IMMA workshop finally takes place

In the latest tranche of projects and actions to receive endorsement from the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, GOBI’s work is duly recognised. Through our current portfolio of work, GOBI will contribute towards the Decade’s mission by: promoting a better understanding of mechanisms to conserve biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction andContinue Reading GOBI gets UN Ocean Decade endorsement