Title Page
ABSTRACT
Contents
Chapter I: Introduction 12
1.1. Background 12
1.2. Scope of the work:Aim and Objectives 16
1.3. Structure of this dissertation 17
Chapter II: Existing legal framework for biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction and existing defects 19
2.1. Background Information 19
2.1.1. The Definition of "Biodiversity" 19
2.1.2. The Understanding of "in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction" 21
2.1.3. The Statistic of Relevant Marine Species 22
2.1.4. The Main Causes of Biodiversity Loss 28
2.2. Existing Legal Framework for Biodiversity Conservation in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 30
2.2.1. The International Conventions 31
2.2.2. Related Regional Conventions 41
2.3. Inadequacies of the Existing Legal Framework 48
2.3.1. Insufficient Targeted Norms on the Core Issues 48
2.3.2. A Lack of Cooperation and Coordination 49
Chapter III: Origination and Process of Negotiation of BBNJ 52
3.1. Background of Establishing the International Agreement 53
3.1.1. The Basis Provided by Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) 53
3.1.2. The Initial Discussion on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 55
3.1.3. The Establishment of Ad Hoc Working Group of the United Nations General Assembly 56
3.1.4. The Establishment and Development of BBNJ Negotiation Preparatory Committee for the International Agreement 58
3.1.5. IGC on an International Legally Binding Instrument under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine BBNJ 60
3.2. Typical Views of Developed and Developing Countries 62
3.2.1. Dissent from the Scope of Jurisdiction of International Agreement 63
3.2.2. Dissent from Marine Genetic Resources 66
3.3. Advantages and Feasibility of Construction a New International Agreement 69
3.4. Difficulties in the development of BBNJ 71
3.4.1. Natural Imbalance in the Acquisition of Maritime Rights and Interests 71
3.4.2. National Interests Lead to Difficulties in Reaching a Consensus 72
Chapter IV: Priorities of the International Agreement - Filling the Core Issues 74
4.1. Capacity-building and the Transfer of Marine Technology 74
4.1.1. Objectives of Capacity-building and the Transfer of Marine Technology 76
4.1.2. Types of and modalities for capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology 79
4.1.3. Funding 83
4.1.4. Monitoring and review 85
4.2. Area-based management tools,including marine protected areas 85
4.2.1. Objectives of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas 88
4.2.2. Relationship in relation to area-based management tools,including marine protected areas 89
4.2.3. Process in relation to area-based management tools, including marine protected areas 91
4.2.4. Identification of Areas 92
4.2.5. Designation process 95
4.3. Environmental impact assessments 97
4.3.1. Obligation to conduct environmental impact assessments 99
4.3.2. Activities for which an environmental impact assessment is required 100
4.3.3. The relationship between Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment 102
4.4. Marine genetic resources,including questions on the sharing of benefits 103
4.4.1. Scope 107
4.4.2. Access and benefit-sharing 109
4.4.3. Monitoring 113
Chapter V: Legislative Framework of China for Protection of Marine Biodiversity and Recommendations to China 115
5.1. Legislative Framework of China for Protection of Marine Biodiversity 116
5.1.1. Overview 117
5.1.2. The Legal Framework of China for Conservation of Marine Biodiversity 119
5.2. Inadequacies of the Existing Framework of China 129
5.2.1. Marine management problem 129
5.2.2. Imperfect legal and regulatory system 131
5.2.3. Lack of information sharing mechanism 133
5.3. Recommendations to China 133
5.3.1. Establish a basic law on biodiversity conservation and improve the legislative framework 134
5.3.2. Establish an unique National Marine Commission 137
5.3.3. Strengthen international cooperation, especially with developing countries 139
Chapter VI: Conclusion 142
REFERENCES 146