Suggested Draft High Seas Implementing Agreement

The current oceans governance regime has significant gaps with respect to biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Currently, there is clear lack of: (i) An explicit mandate for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of living resources in the high seas; (ii) harmonization or coordination among or between the relevant instruments or regional, international and intergovernmental bodies; (iii) implementation tools (such as a mandate to establish marine reserves and environmental impact assessements in areas beyond national jurisdiction; (iv) compliance and enforcement mechanisms, as well as monitoring, control and surveillance of extractive or potentially polluting activities; (v) clear rules governing access to and the sharing of benefits derived from high seas genetic resources; and (vi) a mechanism to assess and regulate new and emerging human activities on the high seas.