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Navigating the BBNJ Treaty: Some Experiences from the Sargasso Sea

David Freestone et al.

International & Comparative Law Quarterly2025https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020589325101036article
ABDC A*
Weight
0.37

Abstract

This article uses the Sargasso Sea as a case study to provide an analysis of the provisions of Part III of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) on measures such as area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas. The ability of the BBNJ Conference of the Parties (COP) to establish internationally legally binding ABMTs in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) presents a new opportunity for the conservation of the Sargasso Sea. Existing work of the Sargasso Sea Commission, as well as the preparations it could make to support a proposal by one or more States Parties to the new COP for an ABMT in the Sargasso Sea are discussed, as is the comprehensive process the BBNJ Agreement establishes for stakeholder engagement as part of the submission of proposals. The Sargasso Sea Commission has a long history of collaboration with international organisations, governments, scientists and others to strengthen the stewardship of the Sargasso Sea. More recent activities to engage directly with the shipping industry stakeholder group specifically are discussed. Finally, the article discusses the work being undertaken in collecting the best available science, collaboration with other international frameworks and bodies and other stakeholders, and the preliminary work on the development of an outline management plan particularly in relation to ongoing monitoring using remote sensing capacity.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020589325101036

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@article{david2025,
  title        = {{Navigating the BBNJ Treaty: Some Experiences from the Sargasso Sea}},
  author       = {David Freestone et al.},
  journal      = {International & Comparative Law Quarterly},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020589325101036},
}

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Navigating the BBNJ Treaty: Some Experiences from the Sargasso Sea

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Evidence weight

0.37

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.16 × 0.4 = 0.06
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.