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国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性的养护，是1982 年《联合国海洋法公约》（以下简称“《公约》”）所倡导的海洋环境保护的一项重要课题。多年来，包括各国政府、非政府组织和学术界在内的国际社会对此展开了广泛、深入和持续的探讨，联合国特设机构也组织了多次政府间谈判，以期获得协调一致及合作的方式处理全球海洋生物多样性和海洋生态系统问题。在2023 年2 至3 月间由联合国所组织的BBNJ 政府间谈判第五届会议续会中，包括中国在内的各国就《〈联合国海洋法公约〉下国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性的养护和可持续利用协定》（以下简称“《BBNJ协定》”）达成一致，这是全球海洋治理多边主义的巨大成功，标志着BBNJ的保护、开发与合作进入了国际法治时代，将对国际海洋秩序产生重大积极的影响。

厦门大学南海研究院十分重视BBNJ 课题的研究，先后于2021、2022年成功举办了两届BBNJ 国际立法学术研讨会，积累了许多重要的学术成果。我院教师持续关注BBNJ 前沿议题并积极参与各类国际实践，本刊主编施余兵教授也应我国外交部的邀请，作为中国代表团成员和专家顾问，赴联合国总部参加了为期两周的BBNJ 政府间谈判第五届会议续会，共同推动《BBNJ 协定》的公平、公正与维护包括我国在内的广大发展中国家利益。多年来，本刊也已就BBNJ 相关课题发表了多篇研究，本期刊发的《BBNJ 环境影响评价规则、影响与因应》《中国视角下风险预防方法在〈BBNJ 协定〉中的适用》《第二届“国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性的国际立法”学术研讨会综述》等，正是对这一重要热点课题的最新跟进。

环境影响评价（以下简称“环评”）是包括海洋遗传资源、划区管理工具、能力建设与技术转让在内的BBNJ 协定四大议题之一，自然资源部第三海洋研究所姜玉环博士、张继伟研究员的《BBNJ 环境影响评价规则、影响与因应》一文，就BBNJ 新协定的环评规则特征、主要内容、对国家的影响以及我国的应对策略，展开深入的探讨。作者认为，《BBNJ 协定》环评制度细化了环评启动机制、实施机制和后续监管机制，构建和完善了国家管辖范围以外区域海洋活动的事前评估和监测管理全过程规制框架与国际公共监督机制，将对国家的国际话语、发展利益和国内制度产生深刻而复杂的潜在影响，推动了新的全球海洋法律秩序和治理格局不断发展演变，将为国家管辖范围以外区域海洋遗传资源利用、海洋生态系统划区保护与管理、环境影响评价和相关能力建设等事项提供统一的国际法律框架。文章还注意到，BBNJ 环评规则将为我国获取深、远海战略资源利益和拓展海洋发展空间带来一定挑战，也为我国主动对接高标准国际规则、积极引领国际规则制定、增强在国际法律事务中的话语权和影响力提供重要机遇，主张我国应积极面对新的机遇与挑战，统筹提升国际规则解释、适用和塑造能力，加快建立完善国内BBNJ 环评制度体系。

风险预防方法作为国际环境法概念，对海洋环境和海洋资源的保护具有重要意义。《BBNJ 协定》在第七条“一般原则和方法”中强调缔约方应遵循“在适当情形下，风险预防原则或风险预防方法”。中国海洋大学王金鹏、姜文琪的《中国视角下风险预防方法在BBNJ 协定中的适用》一文，分析了《BBNJ 协定》中风险预防方法的来源、内涵与适用，BBNJ 一般原则与方法、划区管理工具及环境影响评价等环节中风险预防方法的构成与中国的参与，认为BBNJ 风险预防方法相对于风险预防原则具有灵活性、法律性质明晰、符合可持续发展理念等特点，可以指导各国在海洋生物多样性的养护与可持续利用的具体实践。在中国视角下，风险预防方法具有实践意义，中国支持风险预防方法在BBNJ 协定中的适用，为相关具体条款的制定做出了贡献，在国内法中也应重视风险预防的适用。

厦门大学冯金龙、雷丽萍的《第二届“国家管辖范围以外区域海洋生物多样性的国际立法”学术研讨会综述》，是2022 年11 月厦门“国际海洋周”期间，我院举办的第二届BBNJ 国际立法学术研讨会的精彩实录。该文概括了15 位中外专家学者围绕“包括海洋保护区在内的划区管理工具”与“环境影响评价、能力建设和海洋技术转让以及跨领域问题”两大议题所作的深入交流与探讨。本次研讨会正值联合国BBNJ 第五次政府间谈判续会召开前的空档，上述两大议题中多位专家学者所贡献的最新研究，系统分析《BBNJ 协定》谈判的现状及目前所面临的诸多法律挑战，为我国参加相关谈判提供了智力支持和谈判建议。

日益严重的海洋环境中塑料污染，是国际社会面临的海洋生态环境治理的紧迫而重要课题，联合国环境规划署正致力于制定一项具有法律约束力的塑料污染国际文书，包括中国在内的多个国家主张应考虑纳入共同但有区别的责任原则。厦门大学周晟全、施余兵的《论共同但有区别的责任原则在海洋塑料污染国际立法中的适用性》一文，对海洋塑料污染国际立法中实践中的“共同但有区别的责任原则”展开探讨。该文从国际海洋塑料污染立法的问题缘起入手，分析了“共同但有区别的责任原则”的由来及在气候变化以外领域的实践，并探讨了该原则在海洋塑料污染国际立法上的适用性，逻辑清晰，论说也有说服力，对海洋环境中塑料污染问题的国际法进程具有重要的参考价值。

此外，大连海事大学Muneeb Khan、张晏瑲和山东大学M. Jahanzeb Butt 分享了穆科技（Proshanto K. Mukherji）、马克西莫·梅希亚（Maximo Q.Mejia）和徐晶晶编著、施普林格出版社2020 年出版的《运动中的海商法》（Maritime Law in Motion）一书的评述。该文认为，21 世纪全球商品的海上运输方式和海洋资源的开采方式的变化，以及管理海洋和规范航运的法律融入现代实践，都带来了“海商法”内涵与定义的重新阐述。《运动中的海商法》一书的作者们拥有各不相同的海事背景，包括海员、海事律师、学者、海岸警卫队官员及国际海事组织专家等，法律专业知识与丰富的涉海实践经验使他们能够为海事法的新论述提供全新的视角，对实际问题的讨论全面概述了海洋和航运法律法规体系，填补了航运、海事和海洋治理领域法律和监管方面的重大空白。

2021 年4 月6 日《习近平致厦门大学建校100 周年的贺信》中指出，建设世界一流大学，还需要“全面提升服务区域发展和国家战略能力”。作为国内海洋法领域的知名高校智库，厦门大学南海研究院携本刊将持续关注并推动包括《BBNJ 协定》达成的新背景下国际海洋法领域的新进展、新课题，为建设人类海洋命运共同体、复兴中华海洋文明与建设海洋强国做出新的贡献。

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Editorial Note

The conservation of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) is a significant focal point in the realm of marine environment protection as advocated by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The many years that have passed have witnessed a wide-ranging, in-depth, and ongoing discourse unfolding around this issue within the international community, involving governments,non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the academic sphere.Specialized Agencies of the United Nations have also organized numerous intergovernmental negotiations, aiming to foster a coordinated and cooperative approach towards addressing global issues related to marine biodiversity and marine ecosystems. During the resumed 5th session of the Intergovernmental Conference on BBNJ, held by the United Nations in February-March 2023,States, including China, reached a consensus on 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 (hereinafter “BBNJ Agreement”). This represents a significant triumph for multilateralism in global ocean governance, signifying the advent of an era of international rule of law for the conservation, development, and cooperation regarding BBNJ. This milestone is expected to exert a profoundly positive impact on the international maritime order.

Driven by its great emphasis on the research of BBNJ topics, the South China Sea Institute (SCSI), Xiamen University has successfully organized two sessions of the International Legislative Symposium on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in 2021 and 2022, yielding a trove of significant academic findings. Moreover, the SCSI’s faculties are dedicated to staying updated on the cutting-edge BBNJ issues and actively engage in various international initiatives. At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Professor SHI Yubing, the editor-in-chief of China Oceans Law Review,joined the Chinese delegation as an expert advisor to participate in the twoweek-long resumed 5th session of the Intergovernmental Conference on BBNJ held at the United Nations headquarters. The goal was to collectively promote the fairness and justice in the BBNJ Agreement and to safeguard the interests of not only China but also numerous developing States. Throughout the years,China Oceans Law Review has published numerous studies on BBNJ-related topics. This Issue features papers providing fresh insights into this crucial and trending subject, including BBNJ Environmental Impact Assessments:Rules, Impacts and Response, Application of the Precautionary Approach in the BBNJ Treaty From a Chinese Perspective, and The Second Symposium on International Legislation On Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction:Conference Report.

The BBNJ Agreement addresses four major issues, including marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, and environmental impact assessment (EIA).In their paper BBNJ Environmental Impact Assessments: Rules, Impacts and Response, Dr. JIANG Yuhuan and Prof. ZHANG Jiwei from the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources present an in-depth probe into the characteristics and main content of the new BBNJ Agreement’s rules for environmental impact assessments (EIA), their implications for States, and China’s strategies in response thereto. According to the Authors,the EIA system within the BBNJ Agreement has refined the mechanisms for the trigger, execution, and subsequent oversight of EIAs. It has also constructed and improved a regulatory framework for ex ante assessment and entire-process monitoring of marine activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, along with an international mechanism for public oversight. This system is expected to generate far-reaching and intricate effects on a State’s international discourse, development interests, and domestic systems. It will drive the continuous development and evolution of a new global legal order and governance landscape for the oceans, establishing a unified global legal framework for issues such as marine genetic resources utilization in areas beyond national jurisdiction, area-based protection and management of marine ecosystems, EIAs and associated capacity-building efforts. The Authors also note that the BBNJ EIA rules will bring forth certain challenges for China in terms of securing strategic resource interests in the deep and distant oceans and expanding its ocean development space. Simultaneously, these rules will offer significant opportunities for China to proactively align itself with high-standard international regulations, assume an active leading role in the development of international rules, and bolster its capacity for discourse and influence in international legal affairs. The Authors advocate for China to embrace these opportunities and challenges, enhance its capacity to interpret, apply, and shape these international rules holistically, and expedite the development of a comprehensive domestic BBNJ EIA system.

The precautionary approach, in its capacity as a concept of international environmental law, is of significant importance for the protection of marine environments and marine resources. The BBNJ Agreement underscores the importance of this approach in its Article 7, stating that in relevant circumstances, contracting parties should adhere to the “precautionary principle or precautionary approach, as appropriate”. The paper Application of the Precautionary Approach in the BBNJ Treaty from a Chinese Perspective, coauthored by Prof. WANG Jinpeng and JIANG Wenqi from the Law School,Ocean University of China, offers an analysis of the origin, content, and application of the precautionary approach in the BBNJ Treaty. The paper discusses the composition of the precautionary approach in various aspects of the BBNJ Agreement, including general principles and approaches, area-based management tools, and environmental impact assessments, as well as China’s engagement. The Authors assert that the precautionary approach outlined in the BBNJ Agreement, as compared to the precautionary principle, exhibit flexibility,legal clarity, and alignment with the concept of sustainable development,making it a potential guide for States in their practical efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity. The Authors highlight that, from a Chinese perspective, the precautionary approach holds practical significance, and China supports its application in the BBNJ Agreement and has actively contributed to the development of relevant specific provisions. The application of the precautionary approach should also be underscored in domestic legislation.

The Second Symposium on International Legislation On Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: Conference Report, co-authored by FENG Jinlong and LEI Liping from the School of Law, Xiamen University, is an excellent record of this Symposium held during the World Ocean Week in Xiamen in November 2022. This conference report provides an overview of the in-depth discussions and exchanges among 15 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars regarding two pivotal topics: “Area-based management tools, including marine protected areas” and “Environmental impact assessments, capacitybuilding and the transfer of marine technology, and cross-cutting issues”. It is worth noting that this Symposium took place during a gap period before the resumed 5th session of the Intergovernmental Conference on BBNJ organized by the United Nations. Regarding the two pivotal topics mentioned above,multiple experts and scholars have contributed their latest research, offering a systematic analysis of the current status of negotiations on an international agreement concerning marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction,as well as the numerous legal challenges currently faced. These insights serve as intellectual support and negotiation recommendations to facilitate China’s participation in relevant negotiations.

The escalating issue of plastic pollution in the marine environment presents a pressing and pivotal challenge for the international community in the governance of marine ecosystems. In response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is actively working on the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, with several States,including China, calling for the incorporation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. In the paper On the Applicability of the Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities in International Legislation on Marine Plastic Pollution, ZHOU Shengquan and Prof. SHI Yubing of the SCSI, Xiamen University presents a deep dive into the practical implications of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in international legislation on marine plastic pollution. The paper begins by examining the origins of the issue within the context of international legislation on marine plastic pollution, analyzing the emergence of this principle and its application in areas beyond climate change. It then explores the suitability of this principle in international legislation on marine plastic pollution. The paper is characterized by clear logic and persuasive argumentation, holding significant reference value for the advancement of international law concerning plastic pollution in the marine environment.

Additionally, Prof. CHANG Yen-Chiang, Muneeb Khan M. Jahanzeb Butt share a review of the book Maritime Law in Motion, authored by Proshanto K. Mukherji, Maximo Q. Mejia, and XU Jingjing, and published by Springer in 2020. The Authors hold that changes in the methods of global commodity transportation and the latest approaches to marine resource exploitation in the 21st century, coupled with the integration of maritime and shipping law into modern practices, have led to a reformulation of the content and definition of maritime law. The Authors of the book Maritime Law in Motion come from diverse maritime backgrounds, including seafarers, maritime lawyers, scholars,coast guard officials, and experts from the International Maritime Organization.Their combination of legal expertise and extensive practical experience in the maritime field allows them to provide a fresh perspective on the evolving discourse surrounding maritime law. They comprehensively discuss the legal and regulatory framework of maritime and shipping law based on practical issues, and their work fills significant gaps in the legal and regulatory aspects of shipping, maritime affairs, and ocean governance.

On 6 April 2021, XI Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to Xiamen University celebrating its 100th anniversary, where XI highlights the necessity to “comprehensively enhance the capability to serve regional development and national strategies” in the pursuit of establishing world-class universities. As a prominent academic institution and think tank in the realm of maritime law within China, the SCSI, Xiamen University will, in collaboration with China Oceans Law Review, focus continuously on and drive new advancements and emerging topics within the field of international law of the sea in the context of recent developments like the agreed BBNJ Agreement. These efforts are aimed at making fresh contributions to the building of a maritime community with a shared future, the revitalization of Chinese maritime civilization, and the building of a marine power.

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