Appropriate institutional and regulatory mechanisms for these resources are needed as part of a broader effort to support the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological resources, both within and beyond the national jurisdiction of states. To this end, and for well over a decade, the UN General Assembly has been working towards creating an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This policy insights paper assesses the progress made to date in establishing a governance regime for marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, with a particular focus on developing country perspectives.
