High Level Roundtable and BBNJ Clinic Training Workshop in Grenada
From 7–10 April, the World Maritime University (WMU)–Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI), in collaboration with the Government of Grenada and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, hosted a hybrid High-Level Roundtable and BBNJ Clinic Training Workshop in St George’s, Grenada. The event was organized within the framework of the Ireland WMU–GOI BBNJ Clinic Programme, generously funded by the Government of Ireland through the Irish Aid Programme.
The High-level Roundtable and the BBNJ Clinic Training Workshop, titled “From Agreement to Action: Strengthening Eastern Caribbean SIDS Leadership in the BBNJ Ratification Process,” was a practical, capacity-sharing initiative aimed at addressing the specific needs of Caribbean States regarding the ratification and implementation of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
The event commenced on 7 April with a High-Level Roundtable, featuring keynote addresses by Honorable Minister Kerryne Z. James, Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy of the Government of Grenada, Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS Commission, Ambassador Francis Etienne from the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean States, to Barbados and to the OECS. A roundtable panel discussion followed, highlighting the importance of regional leadership and cooperation in advancing the objectives of the BBNJ Agreement.
The Technical Workshop Programme commenced on 8 April with sessions focused on key aspects of the BBNJ Agreement, the ratification and implementation process, as well as a session on “Sources of External Support for Ratification and Implementation”. Contributing experts included representatives from the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the High Seas Alliance (HSA), Global Ocean Trust, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), demonstrating a shared understanding of the transformative potential of the BBNJ Agreement, relying on strengthened cooperation, inclusive participation, and innovative financing solutions. A key session included presentations by Caribbean SIDS country representatives,showcasing the challenges and significant strides made toward ratifying the BBNJ Agreement. The group was guided through interactive discussions to explore how ratifying the BBNJ Agreement can advance Caribbean SIDS' policy priorities, highlighting blue economy gains from marine genetic resources, benefit-sharing, and sustainability tools like area-based management tools and environmental impact assessments, as well as on the initial legislative steps Caribbean SIDS may take after ratifying the BBNJ Agreement.
On 9 April, the workshop focused on interactive group discussions and roundtable exchanges according to topical ‘provision clusters’ to identify key topics that will demand legislative work once implementation begins. Topics included “Legislating to Require Notification of Marine Genetic Resource and Digital Sequence Information Activities and the Sharing of Benefits,” and “Adapting National Environmental Impact Assessment Processes to Implement Assessments of Activities in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ).” The group discussed jurisdictional, practical, environmental, and negotiation challenges, emphasizing the need for national stakeholder consultations to assess current practices, identify legislative gaps, and determine whether new laws or amendments are needed. The development of ocean policy frameworks to holistically integrate BBNJ goals was also discussed, as was appointing focal points, revising institutional mandates, training key personnel, and establishing national systems for reporting, monitoring, and notification as well as aligning standards across regions and subregions. It was highlighted that effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement requires harmonization with existing legislation, along with adopting best practices for transparency, accessibility, and community engagement to ensure legitimacy and support.
The event brought together a broad network of experts including legal professionals, government officials, and representatives from regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The event also engaged alumni from WMU in OECS member states, CARICOM, and Central America.
The workshop and capacity-sharing event enabled the BBNJ Clinic Team to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and capacity needs of each member state in the ratification and implementation processes, making it possible to optimize subsequent activities planned under the Programme.
More about the event, including photos, is available on the BBNJ Clinic Programme website.
About the World Maritime University
The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden is established within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU is an organization by and for the international maritime community and is committed to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
About the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute
The World Maritime University (WMU)-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policymakers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö.
About the BBNJ Clinic Programme
The Ireland and WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic is dedicated to supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their efforts to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement. Effective and prompt implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is crucial for ocean sustainability and conservation and addressing global inequalities in access to ocean resources. SIDS, characterized as ‘large ocean states’ due to their geographical features and interconnection with and knowledge of ocean ecosystems, as well as coastal LDCs, are among the most significant beneficiaries of the Agreement and among the most important actors in contemporary ocean affairs. However, these States can face capacity and resource challenges in implementing the BBNJ Agreement. The Programme aims to fulfill both practical capacity development and hands-on educational mandates. WMU-GOI researchers and external experts, including the lead negotiators of the BBNJ intergovernmental conference, will lead the consultation process facilitated by the Clinic, and facilitate ratification and implementation procedures undertaken by legal advisors, government officials, and relevant stakeholders from SIDS and coastal LDCs.
For more information about the Ireland WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic Programme visit the webpage https://bbnjclinic.wmu.se/
