Protecting marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction: A penguins’ perspective

The expansion of human activities in offshore maritime regions has outpaced the development of scientific knowledge and cooperative governance across these areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). In this context, current negotiations by the United Nations aim for an international legally-binding...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dreyfus, M. (Author), Thiebot, J.-B (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:View Fulltext in Publisher
LEADER 02989nam a2200397Ia 4500
001 10.1016-j.marpol.2021.104640
008 220427s2021 CNT 000 0 und d
020 |a 0308597X (ISSN) 
245 1 0 |a Protecting marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction: A penguins’ perspective 
260 0 |b Elsevier Ltd  |c 2021 
856 |z View Fulltext in Publisher  |u https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104640 
520 3 |a The expansion of human activities in offshore maritime regions has outpaced the development of scientific knowledge and cooperative governance across these areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). In this context, current negotiations by the United Nations aim for an international legally-binding instrument to improve governance and sustainable use of biodiversity in ABNJ. Penguins are among the most threatened seabird groups today, notably at sea from fisheries and oiling. Here, we examine the available information on penguins’ movements and evaluate their use of ABNJ across species and life-cycle stages. We highlight that in most of the 18 extant penguin species, the birds may undertake spectacular migrations, seasonally or throughout life-cycle stages. Long-range movements were reported in 16 species, with trans-jurisdictional distribution in 14 species, including 13 in ABNJ. Species richness in ABNJ varied extensively according to oceanic region, and also varied according to season. Transboundary movements, notably to ABNJ, are thus remarkably prevalent among penguin species. Consequently, provisions of the treaty under negotiation may crucially benefit penguin conservation, notably by creating a uniform legal framework to designate protected areas in ABNJ, and by promoting the precautionary approach to extraction activities. However, the seasonally-dynamic utilisation of ABNJ by penguins supports the pertinence of adding innovative protection tools, such as mobile Marine Protected Areas, to the negotiations for a more adequate protection of marine biodiversity. Underlining penguins’ remarkable connectivity to the high seas can thus further strengthen this instrument aiming to protect a global ocean commons heritage of mankind. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd 
650 0 4 |a Area-based management tools (ABMTs) 
650 0 4 |a Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) 
650 0 4 |a At-sea distribution 
650 0 4 |a biodiversity 
650 0 4 |a endangered species 
650 0 4 |a Endangered species 
650 0 4 |a environmental protection 
650 0 4 |a Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 
650 0 4 |a Fisheries 
650 0 4 |a fishery management 
650 0 4 |a High seas 
650 0 4 |a Law of the Sea 
650 0 4 |a life cycle 
650 0 4 |a marine policy 
650 0 4 |a Marine policy 
650 0 4 |a Migration 
650 0 4 |a migratory species 
650 0 4 |a seabird 
650 0 4 |a Spheniscidae 
650 0 4 |a tracking 
650 0 4 |a Tracking 
700 1 |a Dreyfus, M.  |e author 
700 1 |a Thiebot, J.-B.  |e author 
773 |t Marine Policy