Dr. Kahlil Hassanali, Postdoctoral fellow at the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI), and principal investigator of the BBNJ Clinic team, participated in the National Workshop on the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, held on 20-21 August 2026 in Georgetown, Guyana.
National Workshop
on the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement
Convened by the Government of Guyana, the two-day workshop was designed to advance national assessment towards accession to and implementation of 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).
The workshop brought together relevant ministries, agencies, and stakeholders to strengthen understanding of the Agreement and identify key national requirements and priorities for its accession and implementation, including in relation to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs), Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs), and Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology (CBTMT).
WMU-GOI Contribution
dr. kahlil hassanali
- postdoctoral fellow, goi -
As part of the technical expert team supporting the workshop, Dr. Hassanali contributed to sessions addressing the background and regional relevance of the BBNJ Agreement, as well as key elements of its implementation, including ABMTs, EIAs, and Capacity-Building and Transfer of Marine Technology. He also addressed linkages with other international instruments and regional frameworks and moderated interactive breakout sessions focused on legal and policy frameworks, institutional structures, stakeholder engagement, and operational steps.
The workshop discussions helped identify priority actions and key elements for a national roadmap towards Guyana’s accession to and effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
Contributions to workshops such as these form part of capacity-building efforts under the Ireland–WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic Programme, which supports States in strengthening their capacity to prepare for and implement the BBNJ Agreement. The engagement also provided WMU-GOI with valuable insights into Guyana’s national and regional implementation priorities and further strengthened collaboration with stakeholders in the Caribbean.
Dr. Kahlil Hassanali, Professor David Berry (Faculty of Law, The University of West Indies, Cave Hill campus, Barbados) and Ambassador Donnette Streete (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana) at the National Workshop on the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement
For more information please contact the WMU-GOI at goisecretariat@wmu.se
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