MARBLES co-organised high-level BBNJ event in Aberdeen

On 21–22 July 2025, MARBLES joined forces with fellow EU-funded project BlueRemediomics and several leading institutions to co-organise a landmark event at MARBLES partner the University of Aberdeen (UNIABDN) focused on implementing the UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), commonly known as the High Seas Treaty.

The two-day event, titled “Implementing the New UN BBNJ Treaty: A Deep Dive on the Value of MGR, BBNJ Batch Identifiers and Obligations on Scientists”, brought together experts from academia, policy and conservation to explore practical steps for operationalising the Treaty adopted in June 2023. The BBNJ Agreement aims to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas through measures such as marine protected areas and equitable benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources (MGR).

Highlights included panel discussions on: 'The Value of Marine Genetic Resources' (21 July) and 'What’s in it for Scientists – Advantages of Taking Part in BBNJ' (22 July). The event was featured contributions from MARBLES partners Abbe Brown and Marcel Jaspars, alongside collaborators from HotBio, London School of Economics, Natural History Museum, Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Queen’s University Belfast, and National Oceanography Centre (NOC). These sessions underscored the critical role of scientists in shaping governance frameworks, ensuring ethical research practices and supporting conservation goals.

By engaging in these discussions, MARBLES continues to advance its mission of promoting responsible marine biotechnology and contributing to global efforts for ocean sustainability.

Access the full event image library here

Photo credit: Brian Stewart (University of Aberdeen)