Blue Pangolin Consulting was pleased to be in Brussels on Monday 13 April 2026, for the Kick-Off Meeting of Specific Contract 05, launched under the EU-funded Single Framework Contract supporting the ratification and early implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
Specific Contract 05 focuses on the development of a study on Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). As study leads, we are working alongside partners to deliver a comprehensive analysis that will inform the European Union.
The study will examine existing draft proposals for ABMTs, including marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), with a view to strengthening the evidence base underpinning future decision-making. This includes assessing governance frameworks, as well as regional and geopolitical considerations associated with proposed measures.
Through this work, the study will:
- Analyse existing draft proposals for ABMTs, MPAs and OECMs in ABNJ
- Review governance, regional and geopolitical dimensions of these proposals
- Provide recommendations on proposals that could potentially be supported by the EU and its Member States
The Kick-Off Meeting provided an important opportunity to align on the implementation of the contract, clarify expectations, and engage directly with the European Commission on its objectives for ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement. The meeting also enabled exchanges across the wider portfolio of work under the Framework Contract, with progress updates shared from other ongoing Specific Contracts, including Specific Contract 4 on forming an informal expert group, of which we also lead, and Specific Contract 2 on the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition.
The meeting brought together key partners and institutions, including Landell Mills, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 3BIO, ICF, and European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
With this Specific Contract running over an 11-month period from March 2026, this work represents a timely contribution to the early implementation phase of the BBNJ Agreement. By strengthening the evidence base around ABMT proposals in ABNJ, the study will support informed, transparent and effective decision-making as the international community moves towards operationalising the Agreement.
