Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

Claire L. Szostek; Angus Atkinson; Victor Martinez-Vicente; Ana M. Queirós; Peter I. Miller; Kerry L. Howell; Rebecca C. Millington; Susan Kay; Matthew Faith; Karen Tait; Elizabeth Talbot; Andrew Rees; Chris Lyal; Jeff Ardron; Matthew Frost

doi:10.1038/s44183-026-00191-4

Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

Claire L. Szostek^*
, Angus Atkinson
, Victor Martinez-Vicente
, Ana M. Queirós
, Peter I. Miller
, Kerry L. Howell
, Rebecca C. Millington
, Susan Kay
, Matthew Faith
, Karen Tait
, Elizabeth Talbot
, Andrew Rees
, Chris Lyal
, Jeff Ardron
, Matthew Frost

^*Corresponding author for this work

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
University of Exeter
Alan Turing Institute
The Natural History Museum, London
The Nature Conservancy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement provides a new opportunity to consolidate and achieve global marine environmental goals. Here we focus on how science and technology will support its implementation. We provide an overview of existing scientific knowledge and methods that are scalable to Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Reviewing data gaps, challenges and opportunities, we outline solutions and a roadmap focused on enhancing resources and capacity.

Original language	English
Article number	22
Journal	npj Ocean Sustainability
Volume	5
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00191-4
Publication status	Published - 20 Mar 2026

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s44183-026-00191-4_referenceSubmitted manuscript, 3.7 MBLicence: CC BY
Szostek et al., 2026Final published version, 3.19 MB

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Szostek, C. L., Atkinson, A., Martinez-Vicente, V., Queirós, A. M., Miller, P. I., Howell, K. L., Millington, R. C., Kay, S., Faith, M., Tait, K., Talbot, E., Rees, A., Lyal, C., Ardron, J., & Frost, M. (2026). Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. npj Ocean Sustainability, 5(1), Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00191-4

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Szostek, CL , Atkinson, A, Martinez-Vicente, V, Queirós, AM, Miller, PI, Howell, KL, Millington, RC, Kay, S, Faith, M, Tait, K, Talbot, E, Rees, A, Lyal, C, Ardron, J & Frost, M 2026, 'Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement', npj Ocean Sustainability, vol. 5, no. 1, 22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-026-00191-4

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T1 - Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

AU - Szostek, Claire L.

AU - Atkinson, Angus

AU - Martinez-Vicente, Victor

AU - Queirós, Ana M.

AU - Miller, Peter I.

AU - Howell, Kerry L.

AU - Millington, Rebecca C.

AU - Kay, Susan

AU - Faith, Matthew

AU - Tait, Karen

AU - Talbot, Elizabeth

AU - Rees, Andrew

AU - Lyal, Chris

AU - Ardron, Jeff

AU - Frost, Matthew

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Science challenges and solutions to support implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

Abstract

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