A decade ago, the CBD community embarked on an epic journey around the world to map and describe the “special places” of the ocean and seas – places that are the most important to the healthy functioning of the global marine ecosystem – known as “ecologically or biologically significant marine areas”, or EBSAs. After more than 10 years, the regional EBSA workshop process has examined around 75% of the global ocean and has yielded a portfolio of EBSAs that encompasses a wide range of species, habitats, ocean features and biogeographic provinces. This process has generated positive outcomes and co-benefits, not only describing and mapping out the special places in the ocean, but also catalyzing partnerships and enhancing political attention on the most important parts of the ocean.

Over time, new information has emerged all over the ocean, including for EBSAs. This side event will review new information that has emerged in various EBSAs around the world, and the implications of this for the use of EBSA information and the future of the EBSA process.