In its resolution 69/292 of 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly decided to develop an internationally legally binding instrument under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to deal with the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, a term that is frequently referred to as BBNJ. In light of this development, CIL held an international workshop in Singapore from 3 to 4 February 2016, to prepare participants for the Preparatory Committee’s first session beginning 28 March 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Professor Tommy Koh, Chairman of CIL’s Governing Board, delivered the keynote address for the workshop.

This report follows the Chatham House Rule of not identifying what someone said in the course of participating in the discussions at the Workshop, except for the introductory presentations by the speakers.