“Our fish are not your marine biodiversity”: tensions in integrating fisheries into the BBNJ Agreement
The 2023 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. However, separating fisheries from broader conservation frameworks has led to fragmented governance. This paper examines how spatial, technological, institutional, and philosophical tensions complicated efforts to integrate fisheries within the BBNJ framework. A qualitative methodology was used to analyse general perceptions of fisheries within marine biodiversity in the context of BBNJ Agreement and negotiations.