Glen Wright

Regional Management of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction in the Western Indian Ocean: State of Play and Possible Ways Forward

In recent years, the international community has become increasingly aware of the growing threats to marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction ( ABNJ ), and international discussions on a new international legally binding are underway. In parallel, some States, through regional organisations, have progressively extended their activities into ABNJ , particularly through the development of area-based management tools ( ABMT s). In this article , we consider how actors in the Western Indian Ocean ( WIO ) might engage in ABNJ governance. In particular, we develop some possible scenarios for developing ABMT s in the WIO , including through the development of fisheries closures, the establishment of marine protected areas ( MPA s), and the adoption of ABMT s under the auspices of relevant international organisations. We conclude that while the WIO is currently not the most advanced region in terms of ongoing efforts to improve the governance of ABNJ , there are already some positive signals and promising options for the future.

Protect the neglected half of our blue planet

Maintaining momentum is crucial as nations build a treaty to safeguard the high seas, argue Glen Wright, Julien Rochette, Kristina M. Gjerde and Lisa A. Levin. Maintaining momentum is crucial as nations build a treaty to safeguard the high seas, argue Glen Wright, Julien Rochette, Kristina M. Gjerde and Lisa A. Levin.

Shaping Blue Growth: Social Sciences at the Nexus Between Marine Renewables and Energy Policy

The development of the Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) industry is part of the EC Blue Growth Strategy. It brings together a range of relationships across people, sea, and energy, from developers to local communities and policymakers. This calls for diverse approaches, moving beyond an oppositional mindset to one that can establish an inclusive community around MRE development. Ownership of the marine environment is a legal issue, but MRE devices operate within a cultural and emotional sense of place. Early, sustained community engagement and advocacy is crucial to developing an industry whose impacts are likely to be felt before its social benefits materialise. Crucially, local communities could be supported by Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research in creating new mythologies and imaginaries through which MRE technologies become an integral part of their culture, as well as part of their biophysical environment. A complex physical, political, and legal environment provides the context for these new marine energy technologies, and its development provides opportunities for SSH research to address issues around the sea and to integrate into the design of new marine energy seascapes.

Sustainable Development of the Oceans: Closing the Gaps in the International Legal Framework

The world’s oceans are critical providers of ecosystem services and they are under increasing pressure from expanding and intensifying human activities. A range of international instruments and institutions aim to regulate maritime activities, though some legal gaps in the international framework remain. In particular, areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) lack an overarching regulatory framework, with no provisions for marine protected areas, environmental impact assessment, or access and benefit sharing in relation to marine genetic resources. There are also gaps and weakness in the international framework for the exploitation of offshore oil and gas resources. In this chapter, we highlight these gaps, outline relevant ongoing processes to fill them, and propose ways forward.