Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Ph.D (Maritime Affairs)
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Abstract
The countries of the world are engaged in negotiations to develop an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (The BBNJ agreement). In the BBNJ process, the member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) participate as a regional bloc and have been actively involved in the negotiations. This thesis applies an action research methodology along with a mix of methods, including the reading of primary, secondary and grey literature; document content analysis; interviews and informal conversations; and meeting observation and participation, to examine negotiation of the BBNJ agreement. More specifically, it delves into CARICOM’s engagement in the process from the perspective of a group of small island developing States (SIDS) seeking to achieve sustainable development of and through the ocean. Applying a blue economy lens, this thesis ascertains and outlines CARICOM’s interests in negotiation of the BBNJ agreement. Concomitantly, it highlights the need for and suggests means towards the group improving internal architecture for regional ocean governance and blue economy policy development. Drawing on the author’s position as a negotiator on environmental impact assessment (EIA) for CARICOM in the BBNJ agreement, the thesis also crafts and proposes ideas that reflect CARICOM’s interests but which, at the same time, may serve to innovatively resolve some of the issues on which there has been considerable divergence in the EIA part of the negotiations. Lastly, in light of the abiding importance of the ocean to the sustainable development of CARICOM member States, recommendations are made with a view to ensuring continued meaningful involvement of the regional group in the remainder of the BBNJ negotiations, as well as in future ocean related multilateral processes.
Comments
ISBN: 978-91-987474-2-3