Several countries have expressed an interest in the question of whether States could properly assert priority over the conservation of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) adjacent to their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). In this brief we begin a discussion of the legal, ecological and social aspects of adjacency.

Using records from the largest data repository of observations of marine species, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System, this brief describes our understanding of the scope of our current taxonomic knowledge of “biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction”.

A new international legally binding instrument is intended to address conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction as a whole.  This policy brief explores some potential avenues for strengthening the overall framework beyond the package deal elements.