A Regional Workshop attended by participants from the Pacific Island States, including Regional Partners such as USP, UNSW, IUCN, SPC, OPOC and partner organizations such as the BlueRemediomics Consortium, attended the three days’ workshop on the “Pacific Region Nagoya/ BBNJ Workshop,” held in Suva, Fiji, from the 28th to 30th April 2026.
The workshop was jointly funded by the BlueRemediomics Consortium, under the European Union’s Horizon programme, the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) and The Commonwealth Secretariat. Amongst the Pacific delegates, Roselyn Strickland from the National Environment Service (NES), attended on behalf of the Cook Islands. According to Ms. Strickland, the workshop was relevant and also timely, to better understand the BBNJ Agreement and the synergies it has with other existing international laws, such as the Nagoya Protocol.
The workshop aimed at supporting countries in their preparation for the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, particularly to provide a deeper understanding of the scientific workflows in the Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) and the interlinkages that exists with the Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) linked with biotechnology and digitals sequencing of information (DSI).
Other areas raised during the 3 days workshop was the need to strengthen regional capacity to prepare the regional for the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, and building trust between all key stakeholders through a structured dialogue and simulation. Participants had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their individual country’s assessment needs and the types of support needed when dealing with this emerging international treaty relating to ocean governance and benefit sharing.
Lastly, the workshop is a great opportunity for countries to revisit their existing policies and laws around marine governance against existing traditional knowledge policies and laws, strengthening regional cooperation and highlighting the types of capacity building and training that will serve and contribute for the better and stronger implementation and ratification of the BBNJ Agreement.
