CMS: COP14 Resolutions & Decisions including Deep-Sea Mining; Marine Pollution; FADs

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) was held 12-17 February 2024 in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). A number of resolutions and decisions relevant to ocean governance were considered (including amendments) and adopted, such as on Bycatch; Fish Aggregating Devices; Maltreatment and Mutilation of Seabirds in Fisheries; Marine Pollution; Plastic Pollution and Deep-Sea Mining. Concerning the latter, on 1 February 2024 the Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority submitted a letter in response to the draft decision. As reported in Earth Negotiations Bulletin ‘significant discussions’ took place following a proposed amendment by Germany to add “or support” to paragraph 3:

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
[…]
3. Urges Parties not to engage in, or support, deep-seabed mineral exploitation activities until sufficient and robust scientific information has been obtained to ensure that deep-seabed mineral exploitation activities do not cause harmful effects to migratory species, their prey and their ecosystems;

4. Encourages Parties to ensure that the impacts of deep-seabed mineral exploitation activities on migratory species, their prey and their ecosystems are fully considered in the development and implementation of any regulatory framework under national legislation and under the ISA for deep seabed mineral exploitation activities, in accordance with the precautionary approach, to ensure the conservation of migratory species;

Deep-Seabed Mineral Exploitation Activities And Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS/COP14/CRP27.2.4/Rev.1)