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<p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiations of the Preparatory Committee
(PrepCom) to develop an international legally binding instrument under the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of
marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.</p><p>The fourth
session of the PrepCom adopted, by consensus, a set of recommendations to the UN General
Assembly so that it could take a decision on convening an Inter-Governmental Conference
to finalise the new treaty. There was overwhelming support to moving towards negotiation
of the new treaty.</p><p>However, the textual elements recommended for consideration
do not reflect consensus and we recognise that the negotiations on some aspects of
the treaty may be difficult, in particular matters related to marine genetic resources
and benefit sharing, and the relationship with existing competent bodies such as the
International Maritime Organization and regional fishery management organisations.</p>
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