Session rationale:
Marine biodiversity assessment, especially for the open ocean, has historically depended on methods that are costly, time-intensive, and geographically limited. Biomolecular approaches, including environmental DNA (eDNA), metagenomics and whole-genome sequencing, are transforming this picture, making it possible to characterise entire marine ecosystems from water samples without disturbing or extracting biota from the marine environment, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional surveys. These tools have the potential to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - in particular the 2050 Goals A and B. They are also particularly powerful in under-observed environments: the deep sea, polar oceans, and remote areas that fall within the scope of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) framework.

This session, sponsored by international organizations that collectively include most of the world’s deep ocean biodiversity expertise, would bring together representatives of the scientific, exploration, observation, and policy communities to demonstrate how biomolecular observation is:

• expanding our understanding of biodiversity across marine environments

• making high-quality biodiversity assessment more accessible and scalable, including for developing nations and coastal communities (because of lower costs and through citizen science)

• generating data and standards directly relevant to area-based management, Marine Protected Areas, and KM-GBF/BBNJ implementation

• enabling decision-making with actionable, policy-ready biodiversity intelligence to tackle pressing issues, such as overfishing, biodiversity loss, Harmful Algal Blooms, invasive species, and the synergistic effects of climate change.

Types of speakers/organisations:

• Leading researchers in marine biomolecular science and eDNA methodology

• Ocean exploration organisations conducting large-scale biomolecular sampling at sea

• Representatives of scientific institutions in the Global South, who are developing capacity to use biomolecular techniques as well as those already applying them for biodiversity conservation

• Data platform and standards bodies connecting biomolecular outputs to global biodiversity databases, such as OBIS and GBIF

• Decision-making, policy and governance representatives working on CBD, BBNJ and their interface

• Representatives of relevant intergovernmental organisations