The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is now 25 years old. The time has come to consider the establishment of a new implementing agreement under UNCLOS. Such an implementing agreement would be comprehensive and legally binding, and build upon the existing provisions of UNCLOS, providing a clear mandate to protect biodiversity on the high seas, based on the precautionary principle and ecosystem-based management for the next 25 years and beyond. The elements of this text provide a model implementing agreement for the conservation and management articles of UNCLOS with respect to biodiversity on the high seas.

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