UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

As open as possible, as protected as necessary: Proportionate governance for environmental DNA under the BBNJ Agreement

Identification

Public canonical key

doi:10.32942/x2mt3m

Authors

Erin Hahn · Justin McDonald · Clare Adams · Maarten De Brauwer · Dianne M. Gleeson · Miwa Takahashi · Cecilia Villacorta‐Rath · Anastasija Zaiko

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

preprint

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.852339+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:04:47.852339+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation · Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development · James Cook University · Maurice Wilkins Centre · Southern Cross University · University of Canberra · University of Otago

Reported affiliation countries

AU · NZ

Documentary abstract — original language

The Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) establishes new arrangements for activities involving marine genetic resources and the sharing of resulting benefits. Direct pathways to resource utilisation are most apparent in conventional genetic workflows where whole organisms or tissues are collected for biodiscovery and analysed to generate high-resolution genomic or biochemical information. By comparison, routine environmental DNA (eDNA) research generally uses non-invasive sampling to infer species presence and characterise biological communities from mixed genetic material. Evolving genomic technologies are expanding the information recoverable from both tissue-based and environmental samples, making sample source alone an insufficient indicator of intended use, information sensitivity, or potential for resource utilisation. This perspective identifies proportionate, use-based governance as an approach to fulfilling applicable BBNJ obligations while recognising routine eDNA observation as shared environmental knowledge infrastructure and supporting timely data exchange and responsive biodiversity monitoring. Managed openness offers a science-informed framework for maintaining access to routine biodiversity information while applying targeted safeguards where warranted. Drawing on marine biosecurity examples and Indo-Pacific regional experience, we outline how existing infrastructure, cooperation, and capacity building could support equitable BBNJ implementation.

Identifiers

DOI

10.32942/x2mt3m

OPENALEX

W7223301951

Documentary context

Documentary family

Working paper

Source-reported types

preprint

Natural entities mentioned

Species

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.32942/x2mt3m
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7223301951

Documented bibliographic relations

Source-declared references and links; they do not establish legal support or UGLC qualification. Up to 20 outgoing references are displayed.

• openalex:w1552342091 · CITES
• openalex:w2010663300 · CITES
• openalex:w2011614832 · CITES
• openalex:w2063580733 · CITES
• openalex:w2076381052 · CITES
• openalex:w2078016313 · CITES
• openalex:w2128552077 · CITES
• openalex:w2162845717 · CITES
• openalex:w2336642407 · CITES
• openalex:w2407935959 · CITES
• openalex:w2520095417 · CITES
• openalex:w2735611463 · CITES
• openalex:w2751272571 · CITES
• openalex:w2754769271 · CITES
• openalex:w2791165592 · CITES
• openalex:w2899195544 · CITES
• openalex:w2912959159 · CITES
• openalex:w2913725860 · CITES
• openalex:w2944020000 · CITES
• openalex:w2954081892 · CITES

0 incoming references within the detected corpus

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.