Establishing a coherent ABMTs network: how the BBNJ Agreement can foster cooperation with existing mechanisms from the perspective of institutional complementarity

Establishing a coherent network of area-based management tools (ABMTs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) is critical for the sustainable development of the ocean, which hinges on effective cooperation between the BBNJ Agreement and existing mechanisms. This paper introduces the concept of institutional complementarity as a novel perspective focused on synergistic potential, exploring pathways for such cooperation. It discusses significant gaps in complementarity between the BBNJ Agreement and existing mechanisms across three core dimensions: strategic objectives, operational rules and management practices, posing substantial challenges to effective cooperation. To address these challenges, this paper proposes stepwise pathways for strengthening institutional complementarity: coordinating objectives from dialogue to shared strategic plans, promoting rule compatibility from scientific guidelines to rule coordination, and enhancing management from collaborative capacity-building to joint actions.