Hybrid Event: International ocean governance – Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations & Regional Fishery Bodies

Wednesday 20^th March 2024  at 12:45 – 14:30 CET

 European Parliament (Room ASP 5G1) & online

Event recording

Hosted by MEP Catherine Chabaud

Co-Chair of the ‘Ocean Governance’ Working Group of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development’

In recent years, major steps have been taken to advance the global policy landscape for the ocean, including through the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (containing the famous 30×30 target) and the adoption of the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (also known as the BBNJ Agreement).

While governments are in the driving seat in the development and implementation of these global instruments, regional intergovernmental organizations also play a major role. Regional Seas Organizations bring together neighboring countries in coordinated priority-setting and management to address key issues related to the marine environment and biodiversity. Regional Fishery Bodies are mechanisms through with countries work together to in the management of transboundary and/or high seas fisheries.

Recognizing this critical role, the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies was created in 2016 to facilitate improved cooperation at the regional scale to achieve global goals. The SOI Global Dialogue, which is coordinated by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), FAO and UNEP, has now become a major platform to explore opportunities for improved regional-scale cooperation and coordination. In this regard, the SOI Global Dialogue will be a crucial mechanism to facilitate the implementation of major global instruments and the achievement of common goals for a healthy and productive ocean. 

This event will bring together representatives from UN agencies, regional seas organizations and regional fishery bodies alongside EU policy-makers, to showcase the need for improved regional collaboration across fisheries and biodiversity at the regional scale, and to demonstrate tangible initiatives and efforts, that are working to advance this collaboration in support of achieving global goals for the ocean.

Final Agenda:

12:30 – 12:45:                 Networking lunch

12:45 – 12:50:                 Welcome remarks by MEP Catherine Chabaud

12:50 – 13:05:                “Evolving global policy landscape for oceans and its implications for regional cooperation and coordination”:

• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — Joe Appiott, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
• BBNJ Agreement — Charlotte Salpin, UN Division on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

13:05 – 13:15:                 “Overview of the SOI Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies”:

• Joe Appiott, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Stefan Asmundssen, Co-chair of the SOI Global Dialogue

13:15 – 13:40:                 “Experiences in regional cooperation and coordination towards global goals for the ocean”:

• Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)
• Miguel Bernal, Executive Secretary, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (GFCM)
• Darius Campbell, Secretary, Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)

13:40 – 14:05:                 “Linkages to EU priorities”:

• Aurore Maillet, Deputy Head of Unit for ‘Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea, Arctic Policy’ (B.1), DG MARE, European Commission
• Silvia Bartolini, Head of Unit for ‘Marine Environment and Clean Water Services’ (C.2), DG ENV, European Commission
• Roby Biwer (LU/PES), Member of the Committee of the Regions (CoR)

14:05 – 14:25:                 Q&A session with the audience

14:25 – 14:30:                 Closing remarks MEP Catherine Chabaud