17 October 2014: The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 12) adopted two decisions related to marine and coastal biodiversity: one on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs); and one on other matters, including impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise and ocean acidification, priority actions to achieve Aichi Target 10 (coral reefs), and marine spatial planning (MSP) and training initiatives.

In the final decision on EBSAs (UNEP/CBD/COP/12/L.20), the COP, inter alia: welcomes the scientific and technical evaluation of information contained in the reports of the regional workshops for describing EBSAs held in seven regions; and encourages Parties and other governments to make use of the scientific information regarding the description of areas meeting EBSA criteria, including information in the EBSA repository and information-sharing mechanism, as well as information from indigenous and local communities (ILCs) when carrying out MSP and development of representative networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). The COP further: invites Parties and other governments to undertake scientific and technical analysis of the status of marine and coastal biodiversity in areas within the respective jurisdictions of Parties and other governments and the mandates of intergovernmental organizations, described as meeting the EBSA criteria and contained in the EBSA repository.

On underwater noise, in the final decision on other matters ((UNEP/CBD/COP/12/L.9), the COP, inter alia: invites competent intergovernmental organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC), to take measures within their mandates to assist countries in minimizing and mitigating the potential significant adverse impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise on marine and coastal biodiversity.

On the impacts of ocean acidification on marine and coastal biodiversity, the COP, inter alia: requests the Secretariat to collaborate with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and others, including ILCs, to raise awareness of the key findings on the impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity and facilitate the incorporation of these findings into relevant national strategies and action plans concerning conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity, as well as develop research and monitoring programmes at global, regional and national levels.

On priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10, the COP, inter alia, requests the Secretariat to facilitate: implementation of the priority actions to achieve Target 10 by organizing capacity-building workshops and developing information-sharing mechanisms on experiences and lessons learned from various implementation activities; and strengthen international and regional cooperation in support of national implementation of the priority actions, including development of a global coral reef portal.

On MSP, the COP, inter alia, invites donors and funding agencies to continue to support capacity building for developing countries to further accelerate existing efforts towards achieving the Aichi Targets in marine and coastal areas.

CBD COP 12 convened from 6-17 October 2014, in Pyeongchang, the Republic of Korea. [IISD RS Coverage of CBD COP 12]