“Our fish are not your marine biodiversity”: tensions in integrating fisheries into the BBNJ Agreement

Abstract The 2023 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. However, separating fisheries from broader conservation frameworks has led to fragmented governance. This paper examines how spatial, technological, institutional, and philosophical tensions complicated efforts to integrate fisheries within the BBNJ framework. A qualitative methodology was used to analyse general perceptions of fisheries within marine biodiversity in the context of BBNJ Agreement and negotiations. Statements and interviews with stakeholders, including delegates, fisheries managers, and conservationists, were conducted during and after the BBNJ negotiations. Survey results revealed divergent perspectives on the relationship between fisheries management and marine biodiversity conservation, highlighting the persistent tensions between conservation and sustainable use objectives. These divides must be bridged to support more coherent, inclusive, and effective ocean governance.