Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement: A general overview and Turkish perspective

Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement: A general overview and Turkish perspective

Seyhan Gül Yılmaz, Berilşah Karan

ORCID IDs: S.G.Y. 0000-0003-0551-4126; B.K. 0000-0001-5211-039X

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Ankara University, 06560 Ankara, TÜRKİYE
LexMaris (The Sea and Maritime Law Research Association), 06610, Çankaya, Ankara, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

This article explores the key innovations introduced by the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). It focuses on the four main pillars of the Agreement: access to and benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources, area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building and the transfer of marine technology. It analyses how these mechanisms contribute to the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), while also addressing the legal, institutional, and practical challenges surrounding their implementation. Special attention is given to the issue of equity, particularly about the fair and inclusive sharing of marine genetic resources. In this context, Türkiye’s non-party status to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its implications for Türkiye’s potential engagement with the BBNJ framework are examined. This study also gives focus to the potential and challenges of the BBNJ Agreement in fostering a more collaborative and inclusive governance system for the high seas.

Keywords: BBNJ Agreement, marine biodiversity, UNCLOS, marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, capacity building, marine technology transfer

Pages: 142-178

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