Notification 2017-002

Dear Madam/Sir, As communicated through notification 2016-144, dated 12 December 2016, the Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea will take place from 25 to 29 April 2017, preceded by a training session on EBSAs on 24 April 2017, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Parties, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities are hereby invited to provide relevant scientific information in support of the objectives of the above-mentioned workshop. Information provided should contribute to the description of EBSAs through application of scientific criteria in annex I of decision IX/20 (http://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/?id=11663), or of other relevant compatible and complementary nationally and intergovernmentally agreed scientific criteria. In particular, we are seeking ecological and biological data on marine ecosystems, habitats and species, and/or physical/oceanographic/geological data relevant to the application of the above-mentioned scientific criteria for EBSAs. Relevant scientific information can be submitted in two ways: (1) by using the EBSA information template (https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsaws-2017-01/ebsa-template-en.dot), attached as an appendix to this letter, or (2) through another appropriate format, such as scientific articles, documents, datasets, or maps. Information submitted using the EBSA information template will be refined and further developed during the workshop through scientific discussion among participants, with the technical and mapping support provided by the technical team to be arranged by the CBD Secretariat. For examples of the ways in which this scientific and technical information has been used in previous EBSA workshops, please see the documents, including data reports, compilations of submissions and workshop reports, from previous EBSA workshops at the following link: http://www.cbd.int/ebsa/meetings?tab=previous. As indicated in the above notification and pursuant to the requests of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in decisions X/29, XI/17 and XII/22, this regional workshop is being convened by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in collaboration with the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (BSC), the Tehran Convention Interim Secretariat (TCIS), the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS). In order to allow the Secretariat to prepare necessary scientific input for the above-mentioned workshop in a timely manner, information should be submitted to the CBD Secretariat via an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int or a fax sent to +1 514 288-6588, as soon as possible, but no later than 28 February 2017. Thank you for your continued support of the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points; ACCOBAMS; BSC; FAO; GFCM; IMO; TCIS; other relevant regional seas conventions and action plans; relevant regional fisheries management organizations; indigenous peoples and local communities; and other relevant global and regional organizations/initiatives