This year’s Symposium, held soon after the BBNJ Agreement enters into force, and focused on “The Role of Science and Knowledge in BBNJ Implementation.”Dr Oral participated online as one of the speaker for Panel 4 on “Implementation, Compliance and Enforcement under the BBNJ Regime”

This session examines how knowledge informs the development of domestic legal frameworks, supports the designation and adaptive management of MPAs and other ABMTs, and underpins monitoring and evidentiary standards. Contributions highlight the importance of precaution, ecosystem-based approaches and robust environmental impact assessment processes. The discussion also addresses the role of civil society in ensuring transparency and accountability through independent scientific expertise. Drawing on the practice of other international organisations, the panel underscores the necessity of interoperable and reliable data systems for effective compliance mechanisms. It also considers how scientific evidence may shape dispute settlement under BBNJ. Finally, the panel addresses the institutional design choices likely to arise in the first Conference of the Parties (COP-1), examining how governance structures, decision-making procedures and science-policy interfaces may influence the effectiveness, legitimacy and long-term outcomes of the BBNJ regime.

More about the event at the link: https://bbnjsymposium.org/2026