A new article published in Frontiers in Marine Science examines the data and governance challenges that will shape the implementation of the High Seas Treaty, arguing that its information‑sharing platform must be built on interoperable, globally aligned data practices rather than standalone systems.
The BBNJ Agreement, in force since January 2026, establishes an international framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Its implementation depends on how ocean data and marine genetic resources are collected, managed and shared across institutions and countries. The new study, co‑authored by Joana Soares, researcher at the AIR Centre, outlines the technical and governance requirements needed for the Clearing‑House Mechanism to operate effectively.
The paper stresses that the CHM should not attempt to replicate or replace existing global data infrastructures. Instead, it should integrate with them through interoperable standards, robust provenance metadata and workflows that allow marine genetic resources to be tracked from sampling to reuse. Interoperability between repositories, propagation of identifiers and harmonization of rules across international agreements are identified as essential conditions.
The authors also highlight the need to strengthen data literacy across academic, public and private institutions. Meeting the treaty’s reporting and management requirements will require greater awareness of data standards and of the rules governing genetic resources under different international frameworks.
The study was developed through the Data for Ocean Biodiversity Observing Working Group, convened under the World Maritime University’s Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, together with MBON and the AIR Centre.
Read full article in Frontiers in Marine Science.
Collaboration
