Policy Brief: Digital Sequence Information in the Context of the BBNJ Agreement
Marine genetic resources and their associated Digital Sequence Information (DSI) are essential for conserving biodiversity and advancing research and innovation across diverse industries, including biotechnology, medicine, and environmental science.
A fair and equitable benefit-sharing mechanism is vital to ensure that all nations, particularly developing countries, can participate in and benefit from these advancements. The BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement introduced a Special Fund to facilitate monetary benefit sharing, paving the way for sustainable financing mechanisms aligned with international priorities.
This policy brief seeks to provide guidance and insights to inform and shape the implementation of the BBNJ’s financial mechanism.
Read and download the Policy Brief here
Introduction
The ocean, with its immense biodiversity, holds vast potential for addressing global challenges ranging from healthcare to sustainable development. However, this biodiversity, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), is under increasing threat from overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. The recently adopted BBNJ Agreement emphasizes the conservation and sustainable use of marine genetic resources (MGR) and highlights the critical role of DSI.
Overview information for high-level audiences
For high-level audiences, the Policy Brief summarises:
- Key Messages for Policy-Makers
- IUCN Recommendations
- What Next? - showing next steps to move forward DSI in BBNJ progress.
What is DSI in the context of ABNJ?
DSI refers broadly to data derived from the genetic material of organisms, including nucleotide sequences (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)) and potentially other data types to be determined.
Although the BBNJ Agreement does not provide a formal definition of DSI, Article 15.5 encourages collaboration with existing instruments to harmonize benefit-sharing practices and establish best practices for data governance. Despite the current small size of the ABNJ DSI dataset (0.06% of the global biodiversity DSI dataset), there is significant potential for expanding its value through cooperation with other frameworks such as the CBD, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO).
The BBNJ Agreement is the first United Nations (UN) instrument to constructively address DSI in the context of ABNJ, aiming to foster transparency, equitable benefit-sharing, and innovation. Marine biodiversity, particularly in microbial and less-studied organisms, offers unique opportunities for developing pharmaceuticals, enzymes, and biotechnology products.