The informal advisory group (IAG) for group for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs) was established in response to a request from the Conference of the Parties (decision XIII/12). Its term has since been extended by the Conference of the Parties through subsequent decisions (most recently through decision 16/16). 

The terms of reference for the IAG were provided in decision XIII/12 (annex III). They were amended to include additional tasks, as requested by the Conference of the Parties  in decision 14/9 (annex III) and decision 16/16. The current terms of reference of the informal advisory group are available here.

The informal advisory group has met six times since its initial establishment in June 2018. 

The composition of previous iterations of the informal advisory group is provided in the annex to the following notifications:

2023: https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2023/ntf-2023-065-marine-en.pdf

2018: https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2018/ntf-2018-056-marine-ebsa-en.pdf

The call for nominations for the third iteration of the informal advisory group for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas is available here.