The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat organized a Side Event at COP-16, which is being held in Cali, Columbia, under the aegis of SOI Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations (RSOs) and Regional Fishery Bodies (RFBs) to Support the Changing Global Ocean Policy Landscape.

 

Dr. P. Krishnan presented the significant developments in regional cooperation for the ocean and specifically looked at the initiatives of BOBP towards the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the BBNJ in the Bay of Bengal region. His presentation portrayed how the 3rd and 4th SOI Global Dialogues helped in designing the regional roadmap for collaboration and cooperation, which further led to mainstreaming BBNJ and KM-GBF, respectively.

 

He elaborated on how BOBP-IGO, SEAFDEC, IUCN, FAO, and the governments of member countries are attempting to collaboratively address transboundary issues in the region like IUU fishing Marine Protected Areas (MPA), fisheries management, fish stock assessments, etc, under the BOBLME Project.

 

He highlighted how the collaboration platforms created by BOBP-IGO, viz., BOB-GBF Working Group, BIMREN, BOB-SAN, etc., contribute to strengthening the cooperation among the member countries. The Regional Dialogue on Promoting Cooperation through NBSAPs and the Regional Workshops on BBNJ and the Conservation of Marine Mammals and turtles were highlighted as capacity-building initiatives in implementing KM-GBF and BBNJ, respectively, in the Bay of Bengal region. Dr. Krishnan stressed that the SOI Global Dialogue energized the spirit of collaboration between RFB and RSOs in the region, along with other contributions.

 

This Side Event, held in hybrid mode on 22nd October 2024, was chaired by Prudence Tangham Galega from Cameroon, who is from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.