The WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) convened a high-level visit and BBNJ Clinic Seminar on 28 September 2026 at the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden and online. The focus of the seminar was the Ireland and WMU-GOI - BBNJ Clinic Programme, a four-year capacity-sharing initiative funded by the Government of Ireland and dedicated to capacity-sharing with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to support, and learn from, their efforts to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement.
High-level visit and BBNJ Clinic Seminar
PROGRESS UPDATES AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AHEAD
The event showcased the achievements of the BBNJ Clinic Programme during its first two years – highlighting the workshops in Grenada in April 2025 and in Seychelles in April 2026 – and outlined activities planned for years 3 and 4 — including an international conference and a model legislation drafting group. Discussions further reflected on the status of the BBNJ Agreement and facilitated dialogue with external partners on collaboration to support the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, with a particular focus on the needs of SIDS and coastal LDCs. Finally, participants discussed the future of the BBNJ Clinic Programme and how it can support efforts beyond 2028 to advance the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement and the needs of SIDS and coastal LDCs in ocean affairs more broadly.
As the BBNJ Programme entered its third year, the seminar served as a valuable forum to refine priorities, strengthen collaboration, and identify opportunities to further support SIDS and LDCs in the ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, during and beyond the programme cycle, with crucial insights from esteemed partners and stakeholders.
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For more information on the event, please find the post-event documents below.
ABOUT THE world maritime university
The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden is established within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU is an organization by and for the international maritime community and is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda.
About THE WMU-SASAKAWA GLOBAL OCEAN INSTITUTE
The World Maritime University’s WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policymakers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö
ABOUT the bbnj clinic programme
Funded by Ireland, the BBNJ Clinic Programme is implemented by the WMU-GOI with the aim to assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in ratifying and implementing the Agreement 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 (BBNJ Agreement)BBNJ Agreement. The Clinic offers legal and policy support to ensure inclusive participation in ocean governance.