In 2016 United Nations treaty negotiations for an agreement on ‘marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction’ will commence.  Negotiations for this prospective agreement – which would build on existing international legal architecture under the Law of the Sea Convention – will explore possible legal regimes for the establishment/designation of high seas marine protected areas, as well as for access to, and exploitation of, marine genetic resources.  This seminar will explore some of the legal, technical and political issues with which States will grapple during the upcoming treaty negotiations.

Cary Scott-Kemmis is a Legal Officer in the Sea Law, Environment Law and Antarctic section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  Cary has served on Australian delegations to a number of multilateral meetings, including United Nations negotiations on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement as well as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the International Criminal Court’s Assembly of States Parties. From 2010 to 2013, Cary served at the Australian Embassy in The Hague where he was responsible for Australia’s engagement with The Hague-based Courts and Tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.