Data Management and the ‘BBNJ Standardized Batch Identifier’ Under the BBNJ Agreement
摘要
This chapter addresses two innovations in the BBNJ Agreement—the ‘“BBNJ” standardized batch identifier’ (BBNJ Identifier) and the data management plan (DMP). The BBNJ Identifier is a means to link information about the subject matter of the BBNJ Agreement—marine genetic resources (MGRs) and digital sequence information on MGRs (DSI)—back to reporting on usage, to enable transparency and equitable benefit sharing. DMPs outline processes and standards for data creation, access, ownership, management and storage, and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders where data is derived from MGRs and associated DSI. Both requirements are important to fulfilling the BBNJ Agreement obligation that MGR data are Findable Accessible Interoperable and Reusable, or FAIR. This chapter outlines the BBNJ Agreement obligations and the areas that will require further input as the agreement develops into practice, with direction from the subsidiary bodies: the Conference of the Parties (COP); the Scientific and Technical Body (STB), and the Access and Benefit-Sharing Committee (ABSC). It provides legal perspectives and context on the data requirements in relation to other relevant legal frameworks. The chapter concludes that the BBNJ Identifier and DMPs can contribute to modalities for the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of MGRs and DSI that are mutually supportive of, and adaptable to other access and benefit-sharing instruments.