BBNJ Agreement- Agenda item 5: Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies

BBNJ Agreement- Agenda item 5: Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies

Alice Mcdonald, Senior Fishery Officer, FAO

25/03/2026 , New York (United States)

Thank you Co-Chair for the opportunity to take the floor.

The FAO is pleased to contribute to the discussions of the Preparatory Commission, in
particular on this item.
Cooperation with relevant instruments, frameworks and bodies (IFBs) is a central principle of
the BBNJ Agreement and FAO has consistently underscored that "cooperation and
collaboration with IFBs will be essential if the BBNJ Agreement is to be successful in
achieving its objectives."

While FAO is itself a relevant IFB under the BBNJ Agreement, it also represents a collective
of IFBs, including: legal instruments and frameworks (such as the Port State Measures
Agreement), global intergovernmental bodies, such as the Committee on Fisheries, as well as
four regional fisheries management organizations and seven regional fisheries advisory
bodies established under the FAO Constitution - all with mandates and responsibilities
relevant to the BBNJ Agreement.

Allow me to reiterate several core principles that FAO considers essential to cooperation with
IFBs:

• First, respect for mandates and compatibility of measures;
• Second, respect for existing international obligations and commitments;
• Third, putting in place fit-for-purpose, accessible, efficient and cost-effective cooperation mechanisms that build on existing platforms, processes and institutional
  arrangements; and
• Fourth, coherence in governance: cooperation arrangements should reinforce, not
  fragment or undermine existing IFBs.

We would also like to highlight that cooperation cannot be assumed; many IFBs require clear
mandates from their Parties, as well as adequate resources, to engage meaningfully.
FAO welcome the Draft Decision prepared by the Co-Chairs as a helpful foundation for
guiding cooperation and coordination with IFBs.

In this regard, FAO offers several practical suggestions.

• FAO welcome and appreciate the inclusion of the concept of "strategic prioritization"
  included in the draft decision, noting that it would benefit from further clarification.
  In this regard, we consider that IFBs with existing mandates relevant to the
  management and conservation of marine resources in the ABNJ are considered as
  priority partners in implementation.
• An essential first step to secure cooperation and coordination is to clarify how IFBs
  will engage in the COP and Subsidiary bodies, and we recommend that the relevant
  Rules of Procedure allow for FAO participation, including in an expert capacity, and
  also enable contributions from RFMOs, especially where proposals relate to their
  region or competencies.
  
• FAO suggest procedures for new proposals relating to area based management tools,
  ensure early, genuine and well timed consultation with IFBs - particularly those
  managing ABNJ - sufficient to allow alignment with their scientific and decisionmaking cycles.
• FAO supports the establishment of a taskforce dedicated to operationalizing a
  common approach to cooperation with IFBs. Given the large number of relevant
  bodies, allocating this work on a sectoral or regional basis may be appropriate. Also,
  in addition to reporting to the CoP, the taskforce (or taskforces) could develop advice
  for the STB and other subsidiary bodies.
• In refining the mechanisms for cooperation, FAO also suggests that Parties consider
  modalities of participation, institutional linkages, interoperability of scientific and
  data processes, alignment of criteria and standards where relevant, and recognition of
  complementary or equivalent processes.
  

In closing, FAO encourages the Preparatory Commission to draw upon the expertise and
capabilities across FAO, the fisheries bodies under its auspices, and other RFBs to help
develop effective, inclusive and coherent cooperation arrangements under the BBNJ
Agreement.

Thank you.