Decreto n.º 7/2025 — Aprova o Acordo no âmbito da Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre o Direito do Mar relativo à conservação e utilização…

O Acordo no âmbito da Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre o Direito do Mar relativo à conservação e utilização sustentável da diversidade biológica marinha das áreas além da jurisdição nacional, foi adotado em Nova Iorque, em 19 de junho de 2023.

O referido Acordo é essencial para a implementação dos objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável (ODS), em particular do ODS 14, inteiramente focado na conservação e uso sustentável do oceano, e é determinante para o cumprimento do compromisso de proteger 30 % do mar até 2030, recentemente reforçado no Quadro Global da Biodiversidade, adotado pela 15.ª Conferência das Partes da Convenção sobre a Diversidade Biológica.

Portugal, enquanto Estado impulsionador de uma governação global do oceano, da sua proteção e uso sustentável e, simultaneamente, detentor de uma área marítima de grandes dimensões, com parte substancial adjacente a áreas além da jurisdição nacional, dispõe de interesses importantes que fundamentam a sua vinculação, estando excluídas do Acordo as matérias respeitantes a definição dos limites de águas territoriais, da zona económica exclusiva e dos direitos de Portugal aos fundos marinhos contíguos.

No plano europeu, a União Europeia e os seus Estados-Membros estão empenhados na rápida ratificação do Acordo para que entre em vigor antes da Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre os Oceanos, que se realizará em Nice, França, em junho de 2025.

Pelas razões enunciadas, a conclusão do processo de vinculação do Estado Português ao presente Acordo assume particular relevância e urgência, importando ainda assinalar a recente Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 106/2024, de 16 de dezembro, em que se recomenda ao Governo que ratifique o designado Tratado do Alto Mar.

Assim:

Nos termos da alínea c) do n.º 1 do artigo 197.º da Constituição, o Governo aprova o seguinte:

Artigo 1.º

Aprovar o Acordo no âmbito da Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre o Direito do Mar relativo à conservação e utilização sustentável da diversidade biológica marinha das áreas além da jurisdição nacional, adotado em Nova Iorque, em 19 de junho de 2023, cujo texto, na versão autenticada em língua inglesa, e respetiva tradução para língua portuguesa, se publica em anexo.

Artigo 2.º

Aprovar a declaração, a depositar juntamente com o instrumento de ratificação, ao abrigo do n.º 1 do artigo 10.º e do artigo 70.º do Acordo no âmbito da Convenção das Nações Unidas sobre o Direito do Mar relativo à conservação e utilização sustentável da diversidade biológica marinha das áreas além da jurisdição nacional, adotado em Nova Iorque, em 19 de junho de 2023, com a seguinte redação:

«A República Portuguesa declara, nos termos e para os efeitos do n.º 1 do artigo 10.º e do artigo 70.º do Acordo, que as disposições do Acordo referentes às atividades relacionadas com os recursos genéticos marinhos e à informação de sequências digitais sobre os recursos genéticos marinhos das áreas além da jurisdição nacional não se aplicam aos recursos genéticos marinhos e à informação de sequências digitais sobre os recursos genéticos marinhos das áreas além da jurisdição nacional recolhidos e gerados antes da entrada em vigor do Acordo, sendo exclusivamente aplicáveis a partir da data da sua entrada em vigor.»

Visto e aprovado em Conselho de Ministros de 23 de abril de 2025. - Luís Montenegro - Paulo Artur dos Santos de Castro de Campos Rangel - Pedro Reis - Maria da Graça Carvalho.

Assinado em 29 de abril de 2025.

Publique-se.

O Presidente da República, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Referendado em 30 de abril de 2025.

O Primeiro-Ministro, Luís Montenegro.

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

Preamble

The Parties to this Agreement:

Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, including the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment;

Stressing the need to respect the balance of rights, obligations and interests set out in the Convention;

Recognizing the need to address, in a coherent and cooperative manner, biological diversity loss and degradation of ecosystems of the ocean, due, in particular, to climate change impacts on marine ecosystems, such as warming and ocean deoxygenation, as well as ocean acidification, pollution, including plastic pollution, and unsustainable use;

Conscious of the need for the comprehensive global regime under the Convention to better address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

Recognizing the importance of contributing to the realization of a just and equitable international economic order which takes into account the interests and needs of humankind as a whole and, in particular, the special interests and needs of developing States, whether coastal or landlocked;

Recognizing also that support for developing States Parties through capacity-building and the development and transfer of marine technology are essential elements for the attainment of the objectives of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

Affirming that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as diminishing or extinguishing the existing rights of Indigenous Peoples, including as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or of, as appropriate, local communities;

Recognizing the obligation set out in the Convention to assess, as far as practicable, the potential effects on the marine environment of activities under a State’s jurisdiction or control when the State has reasonable grounds for believing that such activities may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment;

Mindful of the obligation set out in the Convention to take all measures necessary to ensure that pollution arising from incidents or activities does not spread beyond the areas where sovereign rights are exercised in accordance with the Convention;

Desiring to act as stewards of the ocean in areas beyond national jurisdiction on behalf of present and future generations by protecting, caring for and ensuring responsible use of the marine environment, maintaining the integrity of ocean ecosystems and conserving the inherent value of biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

Acknowledging that the generation of, access to and utilization of digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction, together with the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its utilization, contribute to research and innovation and to the general objective of this Agreement;

Respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States;

Recalling that the legal status of non-parties to the Convention or any other related agreements is governed by the rules of the law of treaties;

Recalling also that, as set out in the Convention, States are responsible for the fulfilment of their international obligations concerning the protection and preservation of the marine environment and may be liable in accordance with international law;

Committed to achieving sustainable development;

Aspiring to achieve universal participation;

have agreed as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Agreement:

1 - ‘‘Area-based management tool’’ means a tool, including a marine protected area, for a geographically defined area through which one or several sectors or activities are managed with the aim of achieving particular conservation and sustainable use objectives in accordance with this Agreement.

2 - ‘‘Areas beyond national jurisdiction’’ means the high seas and the Area.

3 - ‘‘Biotechnology’’ means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

4 - ‘‘Collection in situ’’, in relation to marine genetic resources, means the collection or sampling of marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

5 - ‘‘Convention’’ means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982.

6 - ‘‘Cumulative impacts’’ means the combined and incremental impacts resulting from different activities, including known past and present and reasonably foreseeable activities, or from the repetition of similar activities over time, and the consequences of climate change, ocean acidification and related impacts.

7 - ‘‘Environmental impact assessment’’ means a process to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of an activity to inform decision-making.

8 - ‘‘Marine genetic resources’’ means any material of marine plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity of actual or potential value.

9 - ‘‘Marine protected area’’ means a geographically defined marine area that is designated and managed to achieve specific long-term biological diversity conservation objectives and may allow, where appropriate, sustainable use provided it is consistent with the conservation objectives.

10 - ‘‘Marine technology’’ includes, inter alia, information and data, provided in a user-friendly format, on marine sciences and related marine operations and services; manuals, guidelines, criteria, standards and reference materials; sampling and methodology equipment; observation facilities and equipment for in situ and laboratory observations, analysis and experimentation; computer and computer software, including models and modelling techniques; related biotechnology; and expertise, knowledge, skills, technical, scientific and legal know-how and analytical methods related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity.

11 - ‘‘Party’’ means a State or regional economic integration organization that has consented to be bound by this Agreement and for which this Agreement is in force.

12 - ‘‘Regional economic integration organization’’ means an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region to which its member States have transferred competence in respect of matters governed by this Agreement and which has been duly authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, approve, accept or accede to this Agreement.

13 - ‘‘Sustainable use’’ means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to a long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.

14 - ‘‘Utilization of marine genetic resources’’ means to conduct research and development on the genetic and/or biochemical composition of marine genetic resources, including through the application of biotechnology, as defined in paragraph 3 above.

Article 2

General objective

The objective of this Agreement is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Convention and further international cooperation and coordination.

Article 3

Scope of application

This Agreement applies to areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Article 4

Exceptions

This Agreement does not apply to any warship, military aircraft or naval auxiliary. Except for Part II, this Agreement does not apply to other vessels or aircraft owned or operated by a Party and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service. However, each Party shall ensure, by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing the operations or operational capabilities of such vessels or aircraft owned or operated by it, that such vessels or aircraft act in a manner consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, with this Agreement.

Article 5

Relationship between this Agreement and the Convention and relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies

1 - This Agreement shall be interpreted and applied in the context of and in a manner consistent with the Convention. Nothing in this Agreement shall prejudice the rights, jurisdiction and duties of States under the Convention, including in respect of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf within and beyond 200 nautical miles.

2 - This Agreement shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that does not undermine relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies and that promotes coherence and coordination with those instruments, frameworks and bodies.

3 - The legal status of non-parties to the Convention or any other related agreements with regard to those instruments is not affected by this Agreement.

Article 6

Without prejudice

This Agreement, including any decision or recommendation of the Conference of the Parties or any of its subsidiary bodies, and any acts, measures or activities undertaken on the basis thereof, shall be without prejudice to, and shall not be relied upon as a basis for asserting or denying any claims to, sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction, including in respect of any disputes relating thereto.

Article 7

General principles and approaches

In order to achieve the objectives of this Agreement, Parties shall be guided by the following principles and approaches:

(a) The polluter-pays principle;

(b) The principle of the common heritage of humankind which is set out in the Convention;

(c) The freedom of marine scientific research, together with other freedoms of the high seas;

(d) The principle of equity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits;

(e) The precautionary principle or precautionary approach, as appropriate;

(f) An ecosystem approach;

(g) An integrated approach to ocean management;

(h) An approach that builds ecosystem resilience, including to adverse effects of climate change and ocean acidification, and also maintains and restores ecosystem integrity, including the carbon cycling services that underpin the role of the ocean in climate;

(i) The use of the best available science and scientific information;

(j) The use of relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, where available;

(k) The respect, promotion and consideration of their respective obligations, as applicable, relating to the rights of Indigenous Peoples or of, as appropriate, local communities when taking action to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

(l) The non-transfer, directly or indirectly, of damage or hazards from one area to another and the non-transformation of one type of pollution into another in taking measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment;

(m) Full recognition of the special circumstances of small island developing States and of least developed countries;

(n) Acknowledgement of the special interests and needs of landlocked developing countries.

Article 8

International cooperation

1 - Parties shall cooperate under this Agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, including through strengthening and enhancing cooperation with and promoting cooperation among relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies in the achievement of the objectives of this Agreement.

2 - Parties shall endeavour to promote, as appropriate, the objectives of this Agreement when participating in decision-making under other relevant legal instruments, frameworks, or global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies.

3 - Parties shall promote international cooperation in marine scientific research and in the development and transfer of marine technology consistent with the Convention in support of the objectives of this Agreement.

PART II

MARINE GENETIC RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS

Article 9

Objectives

The objectives of this Part are:

(a) The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

(b) The building and development of the capacity of Parties, particularly developing States Parties, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, geographically disadvantaged States, small island developing States, coastal African States, archipelagic States and developing middle-income countries, to carry out activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

(c) The generation of knowledge, scientific understanding and technological innovation, including through the development and conduct of marine scientific research, as fundamental contributions to the implementation of this Agreement;

(d) The development and transfer of marine technology in accordance with this Agreement.

Article 10

Application

1 - The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of this Agreement for the respective Party. The application of the provisions of this Agreement shall extend to the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before entry into force, unless a Party makes an exception in writing under article 70 when signing, ratifying, approving, accepting or acceding to this Agreement.

2 - The provisions of this Part shall not apply to:

(a) Fishing regulated under relevant international law and fishing-related activities; or

(b) Fish or other living marine resources known to have been taken in fishing and fishing-related activities from areas beyond national jurisdiction, except where such fish or other living marine resources are regulated as utilization under this part.

3 - The obligations in this Part shall not apply to a Party’s military activities, including military activities by government vessels and aircraft engaged in non-commercial service. The obligations in this Part with respect to the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall apply to a Party’s non-military activities.

Article 11

Activities with respect to marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction

1 - Activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction may be carried out by all Parties, irrespective of their geographical location, and by natural or juridical persons under the jurisdiction of the Parties. Such activities shall be carried out in accordance with this Agreement.

2 - Parties shall promote cooperation in all activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

3 - Collection in situ of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall be carried out with due regard for the rights and legitimate interests of coastal States in areas within their national jurisdiction and with due regard for the interests of other States in areas beyond national jurisdiction, in accordance with the Convention. To this end, Parties shall endeavour to cooperate, as appropriate, including through specific modalities for the operation of the Clearing-House Mechanism determined under article 51, with a view to implementing this Agreement.

4 - No State shall claim or exercise sovereignty or sovereign rights over marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction. No such claim or exercise of sovereignty or sovereign rights shall be recognized.

5 - Collection in situ of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall not constitute the legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources.

6 - Activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction are in the interests of all States and for the benefit of all humanity, particularly for the benefit of advancing the scientific knowledge of humanity and promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, taking into particular consideration the interests and needs of developing States.

7 - Activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall be carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Article 12

Notification on activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction

1 - Parties shall take the necessary legislative, administrative or policy measures to ensure that information is notified to the Clearing-House Mechanism in accordance with this Part.

2 - The following information shall be notified to the Clearing-House Mechanism six months or as early as possible prior to the collection in situ of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction:

(a) The nature and objectives under which the collection is carried out, including, as appropriate, any programme(s) of which it forms part;

(b) The subject matter of the research or, if known, the marine genetic resources to be targeted or collected, and the purposes for which such resources will be collected;

(c) The geographical areas in which the collection is to be undertaken;

(d) A summary of the method and means to be used for collection, including the name, tonnage, type and class of vessels, scientific equipment and/or study methods employed;

(e) Information concerning any other contributions to proposed major programmes;

(f) The expected date of first appearance and final departure of the research vessels, or deployment of the equipment and its removal, as appropriate;

(g) The name(s) of the sponsoring institution(s) and the person in charge of the project;

(h) Opportunities for scientists of all States, in particular scientists from developing States, to be involved in or associated with the project;

(i) The extent to which it is considered that States that may need and request technical assistance, in particular developing States, should be able to participate or to be represented in the project;

(j) A data management plan prepared according to open and responsible data governance, taking into account current international practice.

3 - Upon notification referred to in paragraph 2 above, the Clearing-House Mechanism shall automatically generate a ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifier.

4 - Where there is a material change to the information provided to the Clearing-House Mechanism prior to the planned collection, updated information shall be notified to the Clearing-House Mechanism within a reasonable period of time and no later than the start of collection in situ, when practicable.

5 - Parties shall ensure that the following information, along with the ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifier, is notified to the Clearing-House Mechanism as soon as it becomes available, but no later than one year from the collection in situ of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction:

(a) The repository or database where digital sequence information on marine genetic resources is or will be deposited;

(b) Where all marine genetic resources collected in situ are or will be deposited or held;

(c) A report detailing the geographical area from which marine genetic resources were collected, including information on the latitude, longitude and depth of collection, and, to the extent available, the findings from the activity undertaken;

(d) Any necessary updates to the data management plan provided under paragraph 2 (j) above.

6 - Parties shall ensure that samples of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction that are in repositories or databases under their jurisdiction can be identified as originating from areas beyond national jurisdiction, in accordance with current international practice and to the extent practicable.

7 - Parties shall ensure that repositories, to the extent practicable, and databases under their jurisdiction prepare, on a biennial basis, an aggregate report on access to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information linked to their ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifier, and make the report available to the access and benefit-sharing committee established under article 15.

8 - Where marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and where practicable, the digital sequence information on such resources are subject to utilization, including commercialization, by natural or juridical persons under their jurisdiction, Parties shall ensure that the following information, including the ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifier, if available, be notified to the Clearing-House Mechanism as soon as such information becomes available:

(a) Where the results of the utilization, such as publications, patents granted, if available and to the extent possible, and products developed, can be found;

(b) Where available, details of the post-collection notification to the Clearing-House Mechanism related to the marine genetic resources that were the subject of utilization;

(c) Where the original sample that is the subject of utilization is held;

(d) The modalities envisaged for access to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources being utilized, and a data management plan for the same;

(e) Once marketed, information, if available, on sales of relevant products and any further development.

Article 13

Traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities associated with marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction

Parties shall take legislative, administrative or policy measures, where relevant and as appropriate, with the aim of ensuring that traditional knowledge associated with marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction that is held by Indigenous Peoples and local communities shall only be accessed with the free, prior and informed consent or approval and involvement of these Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Access to such traditional knowledge may be facilitated by the Clearing-House Mechanism. Access to and use of such traditional knowledge shall be on mutually agreed terms.

Article 14

Fair and equitable sharing of benefits

1 - The benefits arising from activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall be shared in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with this Part and contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

2 - Non-monetary benefits shall be shared in accordance with this Agreement in the form of, inter alia:

(a) Access to samples and sample collections in accordance with current international practice;

(b) Access to digital sequence information in accordance with current international practice;

(c) Open access to findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) scientific data in accordance with current international practice and open and responsible data governance;

(d) Information contained in the notifications, along with ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifiers, provided in accordance with article 12, in publicly searchable and accessible forms;

(e) Transfer of marine technology in line with relevant modalities provided under Part V of this Agreement;

(f) Capacity-building, including by financing research programmes, and partnership opportunities, particularly directly relevant and substantial ones, for scientists and researchers in research projects, as well as dedicated initiatives, in particular for developing States, taking into account the special circumstances of small island developing States and of least developed countries;

(g) Increased technical and scientific cooperation, in particular with scientists from and scientific institutions in developing States;

(h) Other forms of benefits as determined by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account recommendations of the access and benefit-sharing committee established under article 15.

3 - Parties shall take the necessary legislative, administrative or policy measures to ensure that marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction, together with their ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifiers, subject to utilization by natural or juridical persons under their jurisdiction are deposited in publicly accessible repositories and databases, maintained either nationally or internationally, no later than three years from the start of such utilization, or as soon as they become available, taking into account current international practice.

4 - Access to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction in the repositories and databases under a Party’s jurisdiction may be subject to reasonable conditions, as follows:

(a) The need to preserve the physical integrity of marine genetic resources;

(b) The reasonable costs associated with maintaining the relevant gene bank, biorepository or database in which the sample, data or information is held;

(c) The reasonable costs associated with providing access to the marine genetic resource, data or information;

(d) Other reasonable conditions in line with the objectives of this Agreement;

and opportunities for such access on fair and most favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, may be provided to researchers and research institutions from developing States.

5 - Monetary benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction, including commercialization, shall be shared fairly and equitably, through the financial mechanism established under article 52, for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

6 - After the entry into force of this Agreement, developed Parties shall make annual contributions to the special fund referred to in article 52. A Party’s rate of contribution shall be 50 per cent of that Party’s assessed contribution to the budget adopted by the Conference of the Parties under article 47, paragraph 6 (e). Such payment shall continue until a decision is taken by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 7 below.

7 - The Conference of the Parties shall decide on the modalities for the sharing of monetary benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction, taking into account the recommendations of the access and benefit-sharing committee established under article 15. If all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted, a decision shall be adopted by a three-fourths majority of the Parties present and voting. The payments shall be made through the special fund established under article 52. The modalities may include the following:

(a) Milestone payments;

(b) Payments or contributions related to the commercialization of products, including payment of a percentage of the revenue from sales of products;

(c) A tiered fee, paid on a periodic basis, based on a diversified set of indicators measuring the aggregate level of activities by a Party;

(d) Other forms as decided by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account recommendations of the access and benefit-sharing committee.

8 - A Party may make a declaration at the time the Conference of the Parties adopts the modalities stating that those modalities shall not take effect for that Party for a period of up to four years, in order to allow time for necessary implementation. A Party that makes such a declaration shall continue to make the payment set out in paragraph 6 above until the new modalities take effect.

9 - In deciding on the modalities for the sharing of monetary benefits from the use of digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction under paragraph 7 above, the Conference of the Parties shall take into account the recommendations of the access and benefit-sharing committee, recognizing that such modalities should be mutually supportive of and adaptable to other access and benefit-sharing instruments.

10 - The Conference of the Parties, taking into account recommendations of the access and benefit-sharing committee established under article 15, shall review and assess, on a biennial basis, the monetary benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The first review shall take place no later than five years after the entry into force of this Agreement. The review shall include consideration of the annual contributions referred to in paragraph 6 above.

11 - Parties shall take the necessary legislative, administrative or policy measures, as appropriate, with the aim of ensuring that benefits arising from activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction by natural or juridical persons under their jurisdiction are shared in accordance with this Agreement.

Article 15

Access and benefit-sharing committee

1 - An access and benefit-sharing committee is hereby established. It shall serve, inter alia, as a means for establishing guidelines for benefit-sharing, in accordance with article 14, providing transparency and ensuring a fair and equitable sharing of both monetary and non-monetary benefits.

2 - The access and benefit-sharing committee shall be composed of 15 members possessing appropriate qualifications in related fields, so as to ensure the effective exercise of the functions of the committee. The members shall be nominated by Parties and elected by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account gender balance and equitable geographical distribution and providing for representation on the committee from developing States, including from the least developed countries, from small island developing States and from landlocked developing countries. The terms of reference and modalities for the operation of the committee shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties.

3 - The committee may make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties on matters relating to this Part, including on the following matters:

(a) Guidelines or a code of conduct for activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction in accordance with this Part;

(b) Measures to implement decisions taken in accordance with this Part;

(c) Rates or mechanisms for the sharing of monetary benefits in accordance with article 14;

(d) Matters relating to this Part in relation to the Clearing-House Mechanism;

(e) Matters relating to this Part in relation to the financial mechanism established under article 52;

(f) Any other matters relating to this Part that the Conference of the Parties may request the access and benefit-sharing committee to address.

4 - Each Party shall make available to the access and benefit-sharing committee, through the Clearing-House Mechanism, the information required under this Agreement, which shall include:

(a) Legislative, administrative and policy measures on access and benefit-sharing;

(b) Contact details and other relevant information on national focal points;

(c) Other information required pursuant to the decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties.

5 - The access and benefit-sharing committee may consult and facilitate the exchange of information with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies on activities under its mandate, including benefit-sharing, the use of digital sequence information on marine genetic resources, best practices, tools and methodologies, data governance and lessons learned.

6 - The access and benefit-sharing committee may make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties in relation to information obtained under paragraph 5 above.

Article 16

Monitoring and transparency

1 - Monitoring and transparency of activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction shall be achieved through notification to the Clearing-House Mechanism, through the use of ‘‘BBNJ’’ standardized batch identifiers in accordance with this Part and according to procedures adopted by the Conference of the Parties as recommended by the access and benefit-sharing committee.

2 - Parties shall periodically submit reports to the access and benefit-sharing committee on their implementation of the provisions in this Part on activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction and the sharing of benefits therefrom, in accordance with this Part.

3 - The access and benefit-sharing committee shall prepare a report based on the information received through the Clearing-House Mechanism and make it available to Parties, which may submit comments. The access and benefit-sharing committee shall submit the report, including comments received, for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties. The Conference of the Parties, taking into account the recommendation of the access and benefit-sharing committee, may determine appropriate guidelines for the implementation of this article, which shall take into account the national capabilities and circumstances of Parties.

PART III

MEASURES SUCH AS AREA-BASED MANAGEMENT TOOLS, INCLUDING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Article 17

Objectives

The objectives of this Part are to:

(a) Conserve and sustainably use areas requiring protection, including through the establishment of a comprehensive system of area-based management tools, with ecologically representative and well-connected networks of marine protected areas;

(b) Strengthen cooperation and coordination in the use of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, among States, relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies;

(c) Protect, preserve, restore and maintain biological diversity and ecosystems, including with a view to enhancing their productivity and health, and strengthen resilience to stressors, including those related to climate change, ocean acidification and marine pollution;

(d) Support food security and other socioeconomic objectives, including the protection of cultural values;

(e) Support developing States Parties, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, geographically disadvantaged States, small island developing States, coastal African States, archipelagic States and developing middle-income countries, taking into account the special circumstances of small island developing States, through capacity-building and the development and transfer of marine technology in developing, implementing, monitoring, managing and enforcing area-based management tools, including marine protected areas.

Article 18

Area of application

The establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, shall not include any areas within national jurisdiction and shall not be relied upon as a basis for asserting or denying any claims to sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction, including in respect of any disputes relating thereto. The Conference of the Parties shall not consider for decision proposals for the establishment of such area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and in no case shall such proposals be interpreted as recognition or non-recognition of any claims to sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction.

Article 19

Proposals

1 - Proposals regarding the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, under this Part shall be submitted by Parties, individually or collectively, to the secretariat.

2 - Parties shall collaborate and consult, as appropriate, with relevant stakeholders, including States and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, as well as civil society, the scientific community, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, for the development of proposals, as set out in this Part.

3 - Proposals shall be formulated on the basis of the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, taking into account the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach.

4 - Proposals with regard to identified areas shall include the following key elements:

(a) A geographic or spatial description of the area that is the subject of the proposal by reference to the indicative criteria specified in Annex I;

(b) Information on any of the criteria specified in Annex I, as well as any criteria that may be further developed and revised in accordance with paragraph 5 below applied in identifying the area;

(c) Human activities in the area, including uses by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and their possible impact, if any;

(d) A description of the state of the marine environment and biological diversity in the identified area;

(e) A description of the conservation and, where appropriate, sustainable use objectives that are to be applied to the area;

(f) A draft management plan encompassing the proposed measures and outlining proposed monitoring, research and review activities to achieve the specified objectives;

(g) The duration of the proposed area and measures, if any;

(h) Information on any consultations undertaken with States, including adjacent coastal States and/or relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, if any;

(i) Information on area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, implemented under relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies;

(j) Relevant scientific input and, where available, traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

5 - Indicative criteria for the identification of such areas shall include, as relevant, those specified in Annex I and may be further developed and revised as necessary by the Scientific and Technical Body for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties.

6 - Further requirements regarding the contents of proposals, including the modalities for the application of indicative criteria as specified in paragraph 5 above, and guidance on proposals specified in paragraph 4 (b) above shall be elaborated by the Scientific and Technical Body, as necessary, for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties.

Article 20

Publicity and preliminary review of proposals

Upon receipt of a proposal in writing, the secretariat shall make the proposal publicly available and transmit it to the Scientific and Technical Body for a preliminary review. The purpose of the review is to ascertain that the proposal contains the information required under article 19, including indicative criteria described in this Part and in Annex I. The outcome of that review shall be made publicly available and shall be conveyed to the proponent by the secretariat. The proponent shall retransmit the proposal to the secretariat, having taken into account the preliminary review by the Scientific and Technical Body. The secretariat shall notify the Parties and make that retransmitted proposal publicly available and facilitate consultations pursuant to article 21.

Article 21

Consultations on and assessment of proposals

1 - Consultations on proposals submitted under article 19 shall be inclusive, transparent and open to all relevant stakeholders, including States and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, as well as civil society, the scientific community, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

2 - The secretariat shall facilitate consultations and gather input as follows:

(a) States, in particular adjacent coastal States, shall be notified and invited to submit, inter alia:

(i) Views on the merits and geographic scope of the proposal;

(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;

(iii) Information regarding any existing measures or activities in adjacent or related areas within national jurisdiction and beyond national jurisdiction;

(iv) Views on the potential implications of the proposal for areas within national jurisdiction;

(v) Any other relevant information;

(b) Bodies of relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies shall be notified and invited to submit, inter alia:

(i) Views on the merits of the proposal;

(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;

(iii) Information regarding any existing measures adopted by that instrument, framework or body for the relevant area or for adjacent areas;

(iv) Views regarding any aspects of the measures and other elements for a draft management plan identified in the proposal that fall within the competence of that body;

(v) Views regarding any relevant additional measures that fall within the competence of that instrument, framework or body;

(vi) Any other relevant information;

(c) Indigenous Peoples and local communities with relevant traditional knowledge, the scientific community, civil society and other relevant stakeholders shall be invited to submit, inter alia:

(i) Views on the merits of the proposal;

(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;

(iii) Any relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;

(iv) Any other relevant information.

3 - Contributions received pursuant to paragraph 2 above shall be made publicly available by the secretariat.

4 - In cases where the proposed measure affects areas that are entirely surrounded by the exclusive economic zones of States, proponents shall:

(a) Undertake targeted and proactive consultations, including prior notification, with such States;

(b) Consider the views and comments of such States on the proposed measure and provide written responses specifically addressing such views and comments and, where appropriate, revise the proposed measure accordingly.

5 - The proponent shall consider the contributions received during the consultation period, as well as the views of and information from the Scientific and Technical Body, and, as appropriate, revise the proposal accordingly or respond to substantive contributions not reflected in the proposal.

6 - The consultation period shall be time-bound.

7 - The revised proposal shall be submitted to the Scientific and Technical Body, which shall assess the proposal and make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties.

8 - The modalities for the consultation and assessment process, including duration, shall be further elaborated by the Scientific and Technical Body, as necessary, at its first meeting, for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account the special circumstances of small island developing States.

Article 22

Establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas

1 - The Conference of the Parties, on the basis of the final proposal and the draft management plan, taking into account the contributions and scientific input received during the consultation process established under this Part, and the scientific advice and recommendations of the Scientific and Technical Body:

(a) Shall take decisions on the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and related measures;

(b) May take decisions on measures compatible with those adopted by relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, in cooperation and coordination with those instruments, frameworks and bodies;

(c) May, where proposed measures are within the competences of other global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies, make recommendations to Parties to this Agreement and to global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies to promote the adoption of relevant measures through such instruments, frameworks and bodies, in accordance with their respective mandates.

2 - In taking decisions under this article, the Conference of the Parties shall respect the competences of, and not undermine, relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies.

3 - The Conference of the Parties shall make arrangements for regular consultations to enhance cooperation and coordination with and among relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies with regard to area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, as well as coordination with regard to related measures adopted under such instruments and frameworks and by such bodies.

4 - Where the achievement of the objectives and the implementation of this Part so requires, to further international cooperation and coordination with respect to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the Conference of the Parties may consider and, subject to paragraphs 1 and 2 above, may decide, as appropriate, to develop a mechanism regarding existing area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, adopted by relevant legal instruments and frameworks or relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies.

5 - Decisions and recommendations adopted by the Conference of the Parties in accordance with this Part shall not undermine the effectiveness of measures adopted in respect of areas within national jurisdiction and shall be made with due regard for the rights and duties of all States, in accordance with the Convention. In cases where measures proposed under this Part would affect or could reasonably be expected to affect the superjacent water above the seabed and subsoil of submarine areas over which a coastal State exercises sovereign rights in accordance with the Convention, such measures shall have due regard to the sovereign rights of such coastal States. Consultations shall be undertaken to that end, in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

6 - In cases where an area-based management tool, including a marine protected area, established under this Part subsequently falls, either wholly or in part, within the national jurisdiction of a coastal State, the part within national jurisdiction shall immediately cease to be in force. The part remaining in areas beyond national jurisdiction shall remain in force until the Conference of the Parties, at its following meeting, reviews and decides whether to amend or revoke the area-based management tool, including a marine protected area, as necessary.

7 - Upon the establishment of, or amendment to the competence of, a relevant legal instrument or framework or a relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body, any area-based management tool, including a marine protected area, or related measures adopted by the Conference of the Parties under this Part that subsequently falls within the competence of such instrument, framework or body, either wholly or in part, shall remain in force until the Conference of the Parties reviews and decides, in close cooperation and coordination with that instrument, framework or body, to maintain, amend or revoke the area-based management tool, including a marine protected area, and related measures, as appropriate.

Article 23

Decision-making

1 - As a general rule, the decisions and recommendations under this Part shall be taken by consensus.

2 - If no consensus is reached, decisions and recommendations under this Part shall be taken by a three-fourths majority of the Parties present and voting, before which the Conference of the Parties shall decide, by a two-thirds majority of the Parties present and voting that all efforts to reach consensus have been exhausted.

3 - Decisions taken under this Part shall enter into force 120 days after the meeting of the Conference of the Parties at which they were taken and shall be binding on all Parties.

4 - During the period of 120 days provided for in paragraph 3 above, any Party may, by notification in writing to the secretariat, make an objection with respect to a decision adopted under this Part, and that decision shall not be binding on that Party. An objection to a decision may be withdrawn at any time by written notification to the secretariat and, thereupon, the decision shall be binding for that Party 90 days following the date of the notification stating that the objection is withdrawn.

5 - A Party making an objection under paragraph 4 above shall provide to the secretariat, in writing, at the time of making its objection, the explanation of the grounds for its objection, which shall be based on one or more of the following grounds:

(a) The decision is inconsistent with this Agreement or the rights and duties of the objecting Party in accordance with the Convention;

(b) The decision unjustifiably discriminates in form or in fact against the objecting Party;

(c) The Party cannot practicably comply with the decision at the time of the objection after making all reasonable efforts to do so.

6 - A Party making an objection under paragraph 4 above shall, to the extent practicable, adopt alternative measures or approaches that are equivalent in effect to the decision to which it has objected and shall not adopt measures nor take actions that would undermine the effectiveness of the decision to which it has objected unless such measures or actions are essential for the exercise of rights and duties of the objecting Party in accordance with the Convention.

7 - The objecting Party shall report to the next ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties following its notification under paragraph 4 above, and periodically thereafter, on its implementation of paragraph 6 above, to inform the monitoring and review under article 26.

8 - An objection to a decision made in accordance with paragraph 4 above may only be renewed if the objecting Party considers it still necessary, every three years after the entry into force of the decision, by written notification to the secretariat. Such written notification shall include an explanation of the grounds of its initial objection.

9 - If no notification of renewal pursuant to paragraph 8 above is received, the objection shall be considered automatically withdrawn and, thereupon, the decision shall be binding for that Party 120 days after that objection is automatically withdrawn. The secretariat shall notify the Party 60 days prior to the date on which the objection will be automatically withdrawn.

10 - Decisions of the Conference of the Parties adopted under this Part, and objections to those decisions, shall be made publicly available by the secretariat and shall be transmitted to all States and relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies.

Article 24

Emergency measures

1 - The Conference of the Parties shall take decisions to adopt measures in areas beyond national jurisdiction, to be applied on an emergency basis, if necessary, when a natural phenomenon or human-caused disaster has caused, or is likely to cause, serious or irreversible harm to marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, to ensure that the serious or irreversible harm is not exacerbated.

2 - Measures adopted under this article shall be considered necessary only if, following consultation with relevant legal instruments or frameworks or relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies, the serious or irreversible harm cannot be managed in a timely manner through the application of the other articles of this Agreement or by a relevant legal instrument or framework or a relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body.

3 - Measures adopted on an emergency basis shall be based on the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and shall take into account the precautionary approach. Such measures may be proposed by Parties or recommended by the Scientific and Technical Body and may be adopted intersessionally. The measures shall be temporary and must be reconsidered for decision at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties following their adoption.

4 - The measures shall terminate two years following their entry into force or shall be terminated earlier by the Conference of the Parties upon being replaced by area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and related measures established in accordance with this Part, or by measures adopted by a relevant legal instrument or framework or relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body, or by a decision of the Conference of the Parties when the circumstances that necessitated the measure cease to exist.

5 - Procedures and guidance for the establishment of emergency measures, including consultation procedures, shall be elaborated by the Scientific and Technical Body, as necessary, for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its earliest opportunity. Such procedures shall be inclusive and transparent.

Article 25

Implementation

1 - Parties shall ensure that activities under their jurisdiction or control that take place in areas beyond national jurisdiction are conducted consistently with the decisions adopted under this Part.

2 - Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party from adopting more stringent measures with respect to its nationals and vessels or with regard to activities under its jurisdiction or control in addition to those adopted under this Part, in accordance with international law and in support of the objectives of the Agreement.

3 - The implementation of the measures adopted under this Part should not impose a disproportionate burden on Parties that are small island developing States or least developed countries, directly or indirectly.

4 - Parties shall promote, as appropriate, the adoption of measures within relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies of which they are members, to support the implementation of the decisions and recommendations made by the Conference of the Parties under this Part.

5 - Parties shall encourage those States that are entitled to become Parties to this Agreement, in particular those whose activities, vessels or nationals operate in an area that is the subject of an established area-based management tool, including a marine protected area, to adopt measures supporting the decisions and recommendations of the Conference of the Parties on area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, established under this Part.

6 - A Party that is not a party to or a participant in a relevant legal instrument or framework, or a member of a relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body, and that does not otherwise agree to apply the measures established under such instruments and frameworks and by such bodies shall not be discharged from the obligation to cooperate, in accordance with the Convention and this Agreement, in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Article 26

Monitoring and review

1 - Parties shall, individually or collectively, report to the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, established under this Part and related measures. Such reports, as well as the information and the review referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 below, respectively, shall be made publicly available by the secretariat.

2 - The relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies shall be invited to provide information to the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of measures that they have adopted to achieve the objectives of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, established under this Part.

3 - Area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, established under this Part, including related measures, shall be monitored and periodically reviewed by the Scientific and Technical Body, taking into account the reports and information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, respectively.

4 - In the review referred to in paragraph 3 above, the Scientific and Technical Body shall assess the effectiveness of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, established under this Part, including related measures and the progress made in achieving their objectives, and provide advice and recommendations to the Conference of the Parties.

5 - Following the review, the Conference of the Parties shall, as necessary, take decisions or recommendations on the amendment, extension or revocation of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, and any related measures adopted by the Conference of the Parties, on the basis of the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, taking into account the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach.

PART IV

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

Article 27

Objectives

The objectives of this Part are to:

(a) Operationalize the provisions of the Convention on environmental impact assessment for areas beyond national jurisdiction by establishing processes, thresholds and other requirements for conducting and reporting assessments by Parties;

(b) Ensure that activities covered by this Part are assessed and conducted to prevent, mitigate and manage significant adverse impacts for the purpose of protecting and preserving the marine environment;

(c) Support the consideration of cumulative impacts and impacts in areas within national jurisdiction;

(d) Provide for strategic environmental assessments;

(e) Achieve a coherent environmental impact assessment framework for activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction;

(f) Build and strengthen the capacity of Parties, particularly developing States Parties, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, geographically disadvantaged States, small island developing States, coastal African States, archipelagic States and developing middle-income countries, to prepare, conduct and evaluate environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments in support of the objectives of this Agreement.

Article 28

Obligation to conduct environmental impact assessments

1 - Parties shall ensure that the potential impacts on the marine environment of planned activities under their jurisdiction or control that take place in areas beyond national jurisdiction are assessed as set out in this Part before they are authorized.

2 - When a Party with jurisdiction or control over a planned activity that is to be conducted in marine areas within national jurisdiction determines that the activity may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment in areas beyond national jurisdiction, that Party shall ensure that an environmental impact assessment of such activity is conducted in accordance with this Part or that an environmental impact assessment is conducted under the Party’s national process. A Party conducting such an assessment under its national process shall:

(a) Make relevant information available through the Clearing-House Mechanism, in a timely manner, during the national process;

(b) Ensure that the activity is monitored in a manner consistent with the requirements of its national process;

(c) Ensure that environmental impact assessment reports and any relevant monitoring reports are made available through the Clearing-House Mechanism as set out in this Agreement.

3 - Upon receiving the information referred to in paragraph 2 (a) above, the Scientific and Technical Body may provide comments to the Party with jurisdiction or control over the planned activity.

Article 29

Relationship between this Agreement and environmental impact assessment processes under relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies

1 - Parties shall promote the use of environmental impact assessments and the adoption and implementation of the standards and/or guidelines developed under article 38 in relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies of which they are members.

2 - The Conference of the Parties shall develop mechanisms under this Part for the Scientific and Technical Body to collaborate with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies that regulate activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction or protect the marine environment.

3 - When developing or updating standards or guidelines for the conduct of environmental impact assessments of activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction by Parties to this Agreement under article 38, the Scientific and Technical Body shall, as appropriate, collaborate with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies.

4 - It is not necessary to conduct a screening or an environmental impact assessment of a planned activity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, provided that the Party with jurisdiction or control over the planned activity determines:

(a) That the potential impacts of the planned activity or category of activity have been assessed in accordance with the requirements of other relevant legal instruments or frameworks or by relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies;

(b) That:

(i) The assessment already undertaken for the planned activity is equivalent to the one required under this Part, and the results of the assessment are taken into account; or

(ii) The regulations or standards of the relevant legal instruments or frameworks or relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral bodies arising from the assessment were designed to prevent, mitigate or manage potential impacts below the threshold for environmental impact assessments under this Part, and they have been complied with.

5 - When an environmental impact assessment for a planned activity in areas beyond national jurisdiction has been conducted under a relevant legal instrument or framework or a relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body, the Party concerned shall ensure that the environmental impact assessment report is published through the Clearing-House Mechanism.

6 - Unless the planned activities that meet the criteria set out in paragraph 4 (b) (i) above are subject to monitoring and review under a relevant legal instrument or framework or relevant global, regional, subregional or sectoral body, Parties shall monitor and review the activities and ensure that the monitoring and review reports are published through the Clearing-House Mechanism.

Article 30

Thresholds and factors for conducting environmental impact assessments

1 - When a planned activity may have more than a minor or transitory effect on the marine environment, or the effects of the activity are unknown or poorly understood, the Party with jurisdiction or control of the activity shall conduct a screening of the activity under article 31, using the factors set out in paragraph 2 below, and:

(a) The screening shall be sufficiently detailed for the Party to assess whether it has reasonable grounds for believing that the planned activity may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment and shall include:

(i) A description of the planned activity, including its purpose, location, duration and intensity; and

(ii) An initial analysis of the potential impacts, including consideration of cumulative impacts and, as appropriate, alternatives to the planned activity;

(b) If it is determined on the basis of the screening that the Party has reasonable grounds for believing that the activity may cause substantial pollution of or significant and harmful changes to the marine environment, an environmental impact assessment shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

2 - When determining whether planned activities under their jurisdiction or control meet the threshold set out in paragraph 1 above, Parties shall consider the following non-exhaustive factors:

(a) The type of and technology used for the activity and the manner in which it is to be conducted;

(b) The duration of the activity;

(c) The location of the activity;

(d) The characteristics and ecosystem of the location (including areas of particular ecological or biological significance or vulnerability);

(e) The potential impacts of the activity, including the potential cumulative impacts and the potential impacts in areas within national jurisdiction;

(f) The extent to which the effects of the activity are unknown or poorly understood;

(g) Other relevant ecological or biological criteria.

Article 31

Process for environmental impact assessments

1 - Parties shall ensure that the process for conducting an environmental impact assessment pursuant to this Part includes the following steps:

(a) Screening. Parties shall undertake screening, in a timely manner, to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required in respect of a planned activity under its jurisdiction or control, in accordance with article 30, and make its determination publicly available:

(i) If a Party determines that an environmental impact assessment is not required for a planned activity under its jurisdiction or control, it shall make relevant information, including under article 30, paragraph 1 (a), publicly available through the Clearing-House Mechanism under this Agreement;

(ii) On the basis of the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, a Party may register its views on the potential impacts of a planned activity on which a determination has been made in accordance with subparagraph (a) (i) above with the Party that made the determination and the Scientific and Technical Body, within 40 days of the publication thereof;

(iii) If the Party that registered its views expressed concerns on the potential impacts of a planned activity on which the determination was made, the Party that made that determination shall give consideration to such concerns and may review its determination;

(iv) Upon consideration of the concerns registered by a Party under subparagraph (a) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Body shall consider and may evaluate the potential impacts of the planned activity on the basis of the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and, as appropriate, may make recommendations to the Party that made the determination after giving that Party an opportunity to respond to the concerns registered and taking into account such response;

(v) The Party that made the determination under subparagraph (a) (i) above shall give consideration to any recommendations of the Scientific and Technical Body;

(vi) The registration of views and the recommendations of the Scientific and Technical Body shall be made publicly available, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism;

(b) Scoping. Parties shall ensure that key environmental and any associated impacts, such as economic, social, cultural and human health impacts, including potential cumulative impacts and impacts in areas within national jurisdiction, as well as alternatives to the planned activity, if any, to be included in the environmental impact assessments that shall be conducted under this Part, are identified. The scope shall be defined by using the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;

(c) Impact assessment and evaluation. Parties shall ensure that the impacts of planned activities, including cumulative impacts and impacts in areas within national jurisdiction, are assessed and evaluated using the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;

(d) Prevention, mitigation and management of potential adverse effects. Parties shall ensure that:

(i) Measures to prevent, mitigate and manage potential adverse effects of the planned activities under their jurisdiction or control are identified and analysed to avoid significant adverse impacts. Such measures may include the consideration of alternatives to the planned activity under their jurisdiction or control;

(ii) Where appropriate, these measures are incorporated into an environmental management plan;

(e) Parties shall ensure public notification and consultation in accordance with article 32;

(f) Parties shall ensure the preparation and publication of an environmental impact assessment report in accordance with article 33.

2 - Parties may conduct joint environmental impact assessments, in particular for planned activities under the jurisdiction or control of small island developing States.

3 - A roster of experts shall be created under the Scientific and Technical Body. Parties with capacity constraints may request advice and assistance from those experts to conduct and evaluate screenings and environmental impact assessments for a planned activity under their jurisdiction or control. The experts cannot be appointed to another part of the environmental impact assessment process of the same activity. The Party that requested the advice and assistance shall ensure that such environmental impact assessments are submitted to it for review and decision- making.

Article 32

Public notification and consultation

1 - Parties shall ensure timely public notification of a planned activity, including by publication through the Clearing-House Mechanism and through the secretariat, and planned and effective time-bound opportunities, as far as practicable, for participation by all States, in particular adjacent coastal States and any other States adjacent to the activity when they are potentially most affected States, and stakeholders in the environmental impact assessment process. Notification and opportunities for participation, including through the submission of comments, shall take place throughout the environmental impact assessment process, as appropriate, including when identifying the scope of an environmental impact assessment under article 31, paragraph 1 (b), and when a draft environmental impact assessment report has been prepared under article 33, before a decision is made as to whether to authorize the activity.

2 - Potentially most affected States shall be determined by taking into account the nature and potential effects on the marine environment of the planned activity and shall include:

(a) Coastal States whose exercise of sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving or managing natural resources may reasonably be believed to be affected by the activity;

(b) States that carry out, in the area of the planned activity, human activities, including economic activities, that may reasonably be believed to be affected.

3 - Stakeholders in this process include Indigenous Peoples and local communities with relevant traditional knowledge, relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, civil society, the scientific community and the public.

4 - Public notification and consultation shall, in accordance with article 48, paragraph 3, be inclusive and transparent, be conducted in a timely manner and be targeted and proactive when involving small island developing States.

5 - Substantive comments received during the consultation process, including from adjacent coastal States and any other States adjacent to the planned activity when they are potentially most affected States, shall be considered and responded to or addressed by Parties. Parties shall give particular regard to comments concerning potential impacts in areas within national jurisdiction and provide written responses, as appropriate, specifically addressing such comments, including regarding any additional measures meant to address those potential impacts. Parties shall make public the comments received and the responses or descriptions of the manner in which they were addressed.

6 - Where a planned activity affects areas of the high seas that are entirely surrounded by the exclusive economic zones of States, Parties shall:

(a) Undertake targeted and proactive consultations, including prior notification, with such surrounding States;

(b) Consider the views and comments of those surrounding States on the planned activity and provide written responses specifically addressing such views and comments and, as appropriate, revise the planned activity accordingly.

7 - Parties shall ensure access to information related to the environmental impact assessment process under this Agreement. Notwithstanding this, Parties shall not be required to disclose confidential or proprietary information. The fact that confidential or proprietary information has been redacted shall be indicated in public documents.

Article 33

Environmental impact assessment reports

1 - Parties shall ensure the preparation of an environmental impact assessment report for any such assessment undertaken pursuant to this Part.

2 - The environmental impact assessment report shall include, at a minimum, the following information: a description of the planned activity, including its location; a description of the results of the scoping exercise; a baseline assessment of the marine environment likely to be affected; a description of potential impacts, including potential cumulative impacts and any impacts in areas within national jurisdiction; a description of potential prevention, mitigation and management measures; a description of uncertainties and gaps in knowledge; information on the public consultation process; a description of the consideration of reasonable alternatives to the planned activity; a description of follow-up actions, including an environmental management plan; and a non-technical summary.

3 - The Party shall make the draft environmental impact assessment report available through the Clearing-House Mechanism during the public consultation process, to provide an opportunity for the Scientific and Technical Body to consider and evaluate the report.

4 - The Scientific and Technical Body, as appropriate and in a timely manner, may make comments to the Party on the draft environmental impact assessment report. The Party shall give consideration to any comments made by the Scientific and Technical Body.

5 - Parties shall publish the reports of the environmental impact assessments, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism. The secretariat shall ensure that all Parties are notified in a timely manner when reports are published through the Clearing-House Mechanism.

6 - Final environmental impact assessment reports shall be considered by the Scientific and Technical Body, on the basis of relevant practices, procedures and knowledge under this Agreement, for the purpose of developing guidelines, including the identification of best practices.

7 - A selection of the published information used in the screening process to make decisions on whether to conduct an environmental impact assessment, in accordance with articles 30 and 31, shall be considered and reviewed by the Scientific and Technical Body, on the basis of relevant practices, procedures and knowledge under this Agreement, for the purpose of developing guidelines, including the identification of best practices.

Article 34

Decision-making

1 - A Party under whose jurisdiction or control a planned activity falls shall be responsible for determining if it may proceed.

2 - When determining whether the planned activity may proceed under this Part, full account shall be taken of an environmental impact assessment conducted in accordance with this Part. A decision to authorize the planned activity under the jurisdiction or control of a Party shall only be made when, taking into account mitigation or management measures, the Party has determined that it has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the activity can be conducted in a manner consistent with the prevention of significant adverse impacts on the marine environment.

3 - Decision documents shall clearly outline any conditions of approval related to mitigation measures and follow-up requirements. Decision documents shall be made public, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism.

4 - At the request of a Party, the Conference of the Parties may provide advice and assistance to that Party when determining whether a planned activity under its jurisdiction or control may proceed.

Article 35

Monitoring of impacts of authorized activities

Parties shall, by using the best available science and scientific information and, where available, the relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, keep under surveillance the impacts of any activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction that they permit or in which they engage in order to determine whether these activities are likely to pollute or have adverse impacts on the marine environment. In particular, each Party shall monitor the environmental and any associated impacts, such as economic, social, cultural and human health impacts, of an authorized activity under their jurisdiction or control in accordance with the conditions set out in the approval of the activity.

Article 36

Reporting on impacts of authorized activities

1 - Parties, whether acting individually or collectively, shall periodically report on the impacts of the authorized activity and the results of the monitoring required under article 35.

2 - Monitoring reports shall be made public, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism, and the Scientific and Technical Body may consider and evaluate the monitoring reports.

3 - Monitoring reports shall be considered by the Scientific and Technical Body, on the basis of relevant practices, procedures and knowledge under this Agreement, for the purpose of developing guidelines on the monitoring of impacts of authorized activities, including the identification of best practices.

Article 37

Review of authorized activities and their impacts

1 - Parties shall ensure that the impacts of the authorized activity monitored pursuant to article 35 are reviewed.

2 - Should the Party with jurisdiction or control over the activity identify significant adverse impacts that either were not foreseen in the environmental impact assessment, in nature or severity, or that arise from a breach of any of the conditions set out in the approval of the activity, the Party shall review its decision authorizing the activity, notify the Conference of the Parties, other Parties and the public, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism, and:

(a) Require that measures be proposed and implemented to prevent, mitigate and/or manage those impacts or take any other necessary action and/or halt the activity, as appropriate; and

(b) Evaluate, in a timely manner, any measures implemented or actions taken under subparagraph (a) above.

3 - On the basis of the reports received under article 36, the Scientific and Technical Body may notify the Party that authorized the activity if it considers that the activity may have significant adverse impacts that were either not foreseen in the environmental impact assessment or that arise from a breach of any conditions of approval of the authorized activity and, as appropriate, may make recommendations to the Party.

4 - (a) On the basis of the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, a Party may register its concerns, with the Party that authorized the activity and with the Scientific and Technical Body, that the authorized activity may have significant adverse impacts that were either not foreseen in the environmental impact assessment, in nature or severity, or that arise from a breach of any conditions of approval of the authorized activity.

(b) The Party that authorized the activity shall give consideration to such concerns.

(c) Upon consideration of the concerns registered by a Party, the Scientific and Technical Body shall consider and may evaluate the matter based on the best available science and scientific information and, where available, relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and may notify the Party that authorized the activity, if it considers that such activity may have significant adverse impacts that were either not foreseen in the environmental impact assessment or that arise from a breach of any conditions of approval of the authorized activity and, after giving that Party an opportunity to respond to the concerns registered and taking into account such response and as appropriate, may make recommendations to the Party that authorized the activity.

(d) The registration of concerns, any notifications issued and any recommendations made by the Scientific and Technical Body shall be made publicly available, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism.

(e) The Party that authorized the activity shall give consideration to any notifications issued and any recommendations made by the Scientific and Technical Body.

5 - All States, in particular adjacent coastal States and any other States adjacent to the activity when they are potentially most affected States, and stakeholders shall be kept informed through the Clearing-House Mechanism and may be consulted in the monitoring, reporting and review processes in respect of an activity authorized under this Agreement.

6 - Parties shall publish, including through the Clearing-House Mechanism:

(a) Reports on the review of the impacts of the authorized activity;

(b) Decision documents, including a record of the reasons for the decision by the Party, when a Party has changed its decision authorizing the activity.

Article 38

Standards and/or guidelines to be developed by the Scientific and Technical Body related to environmental impact assessments

1 - The Scientific and Technical Body shall develop standards or guidelines for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties on:

(a) The determination of whether the thresholds for the conduct of a screening or an environmental impact assessment under article 30 have been met or exceeded for planned activities, including on the basis of the non-exhaustive factors set out in paragraph 2 of that article;

(b) The assessment of cumulative impacts in areas beyond national jurisdiction and how those impacts should be taken into account in the environmental impact assessment process;

(c) The assessment of impacts, in areas within national jurisdiction, of planned activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction and how those impacts should be taken into account in the environmental impact assessment process;

(d) The public notification and consultation process under article 32, including the determination of what constitutes confidential or proprietary information;

(e) The required content of environmental impact assessment reports and published information used in the screening process pursuant to article 33, including best practices;

(f) The monitoring of and reporting on the impacts of authorized activities as set out in articles 35 and 36, including the identification of best practices;

(g) The conduct of strategic environmental assessments.

2 - The Scientific and Technical Body may also develop standards and guidelines for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties, including on:

(a) An indicative non-exhaustive list of activities that require or do not require an environmental impact assessment, as well as any criteria related to those activities, which shall be periodically updated;

(b) The conduct of environmental impact assessments by Parties to this Agreement in areas identified as requiring protection or special attention.

3 - Any standard shall be set out in an annex to this Agreement, in accordance with article 74.

Article 39

Strategic environmental assessments

1 - Parties shall, individually or in cooperation with other Parties, consider conducting strategic environmental assessments for plans and programmes relating to activities under their jurisdiction or control, to be conducted in areas beyond national jurisdiction, in order to assess the potential effects of such plans or programmes, as well as of alternatives, on the marine environment.

2 - The Conference of the Parties may conduct a strategic environmental assessment of an area or region to collate and synthesize the best available information about the area or region, assess current and potential future impacts and identify data gaps and research priorities.

3 - When undertaking environmental impact assessments pursuant to this Part, Parties shall take into account the results of relevant strategic environmental assessments carried out under paragraphs 1 and 2 above, where available.

4 - The Conference of the Parties shall develop guidance on the conduct of each category of strategic environmental assessment described in this article.

PART V

CAPACITY-BUILDING AND THE TRANSFER OF MARINE TECHNOLOGY

Article 40

Objectives

The objectives of this Part are to:

(a) Assist Parties, in particular developing States Parties, in implementing the provisions of this Agreement, to achieve its objectives;

(b) Enable inclusive, equitable and effective cooperation and participation in the activities undertaken under this Agreement;

(c) Develop the marine scientific and technological capacity, including with respect to research, of Parties, in particular developing States Parties, with regard to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, including through access to marine technology by, and the transfer of marine technology to, developing States Parties;

(d) Increase, disseminate and share knowledge on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;

(e) More specifically, support developing States Parties, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, geographically disadvantaged States, small island developing States, coastal African States, archipelagic States and developing middle-income countries, through capacity-building and the development and transfer of marine technology under this Agreement, in achieving the objectives relating to:

(i) Marine genetic resources, including the sharing of benefits, as reflected in article 9;

(ii) Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, as reflected in article 17;

(iii) Environmental impact assessments, as reflected in article 27.

Article 41

Cooperation in capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology

1 - Parties shall cooperate, directly or through relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, to assist Parties, in particular developing States Parties, in achieving the objectives of this Agreement through capacity-building and the development and transfer of marine science and marine technology.

2 - In providing capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology under this Agreement, Parties shall cooperate at all levels and in all forms, including through partnerships with and involving all relevant stakeholders, such as, where appropriate, the private sector, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities as holders of traditional knowledge, as well as through strengthening cooperation and coordination between relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies.