Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17)

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) occurred on October 19-30, 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia. 

The Aquatic Blue Food Coalition members are contributed to several events throughout COP17, including the events listed.

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Ecosystem Restoration in Working Seas: Delivering on GBF Target 2 with Fisheries

Data: Tuesday, October 20 at 11:30

Localização: Talin – Side-event Room 1

Description: Delivering Target 2 of the GBF requires countries to move from ambition to implementation. In coastal and marine areas where fisheries remain central to food, livelihoods and local economies, this means treating restoration not only as an area commitment, technical intervention, or restriction on use, but as a long-term change in the pressures, decisions and relationships that shape a working sea.

This side event will explore fisheries active contribution to Target 2 delivery. It will move beyond the idea that restoration is delivered only through closures or habitat protection, and examine broader contributions across a restoration continuum: pressure reduction, impact mitigation, passive recovery, active rebuilding, monitoring, gear innovation and stewardship.

Fisheries and restoration experts will identify what makes fisheries-related restoration effective, measurable and inclusive of production sector actors. Discussion will focus on how restoration objectives can be translated into practical measures; how fishers’ knowledge, data and tools can support recovery; how restoration benefits and burdens can be shared equitably; and how countries can recognise fisheries contributions in their national reports.

The session will focus on the conditions for delivery, rather than whether fisheries and restoration can coexist in principle.  By connecting Target 2 with sustainable use, food security, ecosystem-based fisheries management and the lived realities of coastal communities, the event will help clarify how marine restoration can be designed not only for protected sites, but also for productive seascapes.

The Ocean in the Global Review: Progress, Gaps and Ways Forward

Data: Wednesday October 21 at 16:30

Localização: Vayk – Side-event Room 3 – Level 2

Description: The Global Biodiversity Framework addresses biodiversity as an integrated whole, without distinguishing between life on land and in the ocean. As a result, the ocean is largely treated as a cross-cutting issue, with only a limited number of targets explicitly referring to marine and coastal ecosystems. Historically, this has contributed to the ocean receiving less visibility in biodiversity policy and financing discussions.

Four years after the adoption of the Framework, the first global review of collective progress offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made and identify where further action is needed. This side event will assess whether ocean-based action is advancing and explore options to accelerate progress towards 2030. In particular, it will consider the Ocean Breakthroughs and insights emerging from their Dashboard, highlighting potential pathways to raise ambition, strengthen accountability and translate GBF commitments into measurable action for marine and coastal ecosystems.

Environmentally harmful subsidies reform amidst geopolitical tensions and rising fuel prices

Data: Monday, October 26 at 18:15

Localização: Jermuk – African States meeting room

Description: Environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS) continue to drive biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, and unsustainable resource use across sectors including fisheries, agriculture, and fossil fuels, eroding economic productivity and market stability. At the same time, governments and businesses face increasing geopolitical instability, inflationary pressures, and rising fuel and food prices, creating political and economic challenges for incentive reform. Despite these pressures, international commitments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity Global Biodiversity Framework Target 18 and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies provide renewed momentum for governments to maximize the value of existing public finance. This will allow governments to identify, reform, and phase out subsidies that harm nature, while addressing inequality, market distortion and incentivizing sustainable development.

This side event will explore how countries can advance ambitious and socially equitable EHS reform in a rapidly changing global context. Building on research developed by IIED, B-Team and Bankers without Boundaries, and previous work from all hosts organisations, we will examine lessons from cases of successful EHS reform and discuss strategies to balance environmental goals with energy security, livelihoods, and sustainable businesses. We will further discuss how proactive business support for incentive reform can give policymakers the confidence to act, ensuring that resilient practices become the most commercially rational and competitive choice.  Finally, we will explore how positive incentives can provide a social protection function for small-scale producers to ultimately achieve more sustainable and socially just outcomes for all.

Sustainable Use for Nature: Achieving Targets 9 and 10 in Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

Data: Tuesday, October 27 at 15:00

Localização: Talin – Side-event Room 1

Description: Targets 9 and 10 of the GBF sit at the heart of the relationship between biodiversity and people. They recognise that sustainable use, livelihoods, equity and ecosystem resilience are not peripheral to biodiversity action, but essential to its delivery. For fisheries and aquaculture, these targets offer an important opportunity to show how productive aquatic systems can contribute to conservation outcomes while supporting the people and communities that depend on them.

Yet this opportunity is not fully captured by the current GBF monitoring architecture. As a result, much of the real work of delivering Targets 9 and 10 in aquatic systems is not systematically reflected in national reports. 

This side event will showcase countries and partners that bring fisheries and aquaculture into the delivery of Targets 9 and 10, even where formal indicators or reporting pathways do not exist. It will ask what credible implementation looks like beyond stock assessments, protected area designations or production metrics alone. How can fisheries demonstrate sustainable use that supports biodiversity, food security and livelihoods? How can aquaculture and fisheries areas be managed to reduce impacts, maintain ecosystem functions, conserve and restore biodiversity, and strengthen the long-term resilience of aquatic food systems?

By focusing on implementation, the event will help build momentum for stronger delivery of Targets 9 and 10 in marine and coastal systems. It will highlight practical approaches that Parties can adapt in their own national contexts. By showcasing country experiences and practical pathways, the event will encourage Parties and observers to look beyond formal indicators and recognise fisheries and aquaculture as real contributors to delivering on biodiversity commitments.