ENB @ 2nd Marine Biodiversity Working Group: Highlights for 1 May, 2008

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	Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction New York \| 28 April-2 May 2008


Daily Web Coverage	Bulletins
Daily Web Coverage	HTM	PDF
Curtain Raiser
Mon 28 Apr
Tue 29 Apr
Wed 30 Apr
Thu 1 May
Fri 2 May & Summary
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Governance and regulatory gaps,
future of Working Group discussed

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group of the General Assembly to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (the Working Group) convened for its fourth day on Thursday, 1 May, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.

In the morning, the Working Group completed discussions on the issues identified in General Assembly resolution 61/222. Delegates exchanged views on the existence of a governance or regulatory gap, and while most agreed that implementation deficits exist that need to be addressed, there was no agreement on the presence of governance or regulatory gaps.

Delegates then addressed other matters and focused on the future of the Working Group. While most agreed on the value of continuing the Working Group, there was concern from some states over the financial implications of a third meeting.

Co-Chairs Hill and Gomez-Robkedo adjourned the meeting at 12:20 pm in order to prepare their Co-Chairs' statement. The Working Group is scheduled to reconvene at 11:00 am Friday.

Thursday, 1 May 2008
Governance and Regulatory Gaps

Holger Martinsen (Argentina) argued there is no regulatory or governance gap, but rather a controversy about the legal regime applicable to the MGRs on the seabed.	The International Seabed Authority urged delegates to ensure any new measures avoid conflict and overlap with existing regimes.	The Dominican Republic underscored synergies between the Working Group and the work of the UNESCO-IOC.
Other Matters
Lucas González Millán (Venezuela).	Maria Teresa Mesquita Pessôa (Brazil).	J. Nicolás Guerrero Peniche (Mexico).
Side Event
IUCN held a lunchtime side event on regulatory and governance gaps and options for addressing them.
Around the Working Group

Near the south entrance of the UN, "Under the Sea - The Promised Land," a series of paintings by Brazilian artist Helene Alves (in center photo), presents the deep sea as a last resort for life on Earth.