The Kick-off Meeting of the “Enabling Activities and Ratification Support for the BBNJ Agreement Project”, implemented in cooperation between the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Eighth Replenishment (GEF-8), was successfully held on 23 June 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel Ankara. The meeting brought together a wide range of participants, including representatives from public institutions and organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks delivered by Prof. Dr. Hasan Ayrancı, Member of the Board of Directors of DEHUKAM, and Mrs. Ergül Terzioğlu, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. In their speeches, they underlined the significance of the BBNJ Agreement as the first global implementing agreement dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. They also highlighted Türkiye’s ongoing efforts regarding the Agreement and the expected contributions of the project.
Following the opening remarks, Dr. Mustafa Başkara, DEHUKAM CEO, delivered a presentation entitled “The BBNJ Agreement and Türkiye.” The presentation provided an overview of the Agreement’s core elements, its role within the framework of international ocean governance, and an assessment of Türkiye’s process towards becoming a Party to the Agreement.
Subsequently, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali İbrahim Akkutay, Project Manager and Senior Researcher at DEHUKAM, delivered a presentation entitled “Enabling Activities and Ratification Support for the BBNJ Agreement Project.” The presentation introduced the project’s objectives, planned activities, expected outputs, and the roadmap designed to facilitate the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in Türkiye.
The final presentation of the meeting was delivered by Ms. Hatice Şahin, Head of the Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Department at the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, under the title “Thematic Groups and Stakeholder Engagement.” Her presentation introduced the four main thematic areas of the BBNJ Agreement and provided an overview of the stakeholder engagement mechanisms and the functioning of the thematic working groups that will operate throughout the project.
The project aims to support the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in Türkiye following its ratification through a collaborative process involving public institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society organizations. In this context, the project seeks to strengthen national capacity, enhance institutional coordination, and develop a shared roadmap for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
In line with the Century of Türkiye Vision, the project will continue to support a Türkiye that closely follows international developments in ocean governance, plays an active role in global processes for the conservation of marine biodiversity, and promotes science-based policymaking. Through this initiative, the project aims to strengthen Türkiye’s capacity in the fields of international law of the sea and ocean governance, foster cooperation among relevant stakeholders, and contribute to the preservation of healthy marine ecosystems for future generations.
