Episode 3 of the mini-series explores the role and future design of the treaty’s Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM). The episode examines why this mechanism is needed and what will be required to establish it effectively. Discussion focuses on how the CHM could connect with existing gene banks, repositories, databases to facilitate information sharing on marine genetic resources. The conversation also highlights the potential role of the CHM as a “match-maker” between capacity needs and capacity-building opportunities. In addition, the episode considers how traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities may be recognised and protected within the system, and reflects on related debates in other international fora where access and benefit sharing remains a central governance issue.

Guests

• Marcel Jaspars is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen where he leads the Marine Biodiscovery Centre which focuses on marine resources for novel pharmaceuticals, and to investigate fundamental questions in marine chemical ecology and biosynthesis. Marcel has been active at national and international levels to develop the science, its applications/industrial uptake and associated policy involved in marine biodiscovery and biotechnology. He provides scientific advice to the UK, EU and UN for global policy processes on ocean conservation and digital sequence information via reports, papers and taking part in discussion meetings.
• Amber Hartman Scholz is a microbiologist and Head of the Science Policy & Internationalization Department at the Leibniz Institute DSMZ in Braunschweig, Germany. She leads international science policy research with an emphasis on access and benefit sharing and digital sequence information. She co-founded the DSI Scientific Network and the German Nagoya Protocol Hub and is engaged leads Observer delegations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the World Health Organization, the High Seas Treaty and the FAO Plant Treaty. She held previous science policy posts in the California State Senate and the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy during the Obama administration. She holds a PhD in Biology from the Johns Hopkins University.
• Julia Schutz Veiga is a consultant in ocean governance and the law of the sea, with recognised expertise in the BBNJ Agreement and marine technology transfer. Her research examines how international legal architectures distribute power, access, and benefits in the global ocean, with particular attention to equity-oriented implementation and the interface between legal design and practice.
• Vanessa Paloma Lopes is an early career scientist and recent graduate of Boston University, with a Master of Science degree in Marine Biology. Vanessa is a member of the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI) Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction working group. Her research interests include a focus on enabling capacity building for early career scientists in SIDS and identifying challenges and options for sustainable development and conservation of the Oceans in Cabo Verde.

Co-producers

•  Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki – Postdoctoral Research Fellow, ANCORS
•  Jennifer Macey – Journalist & PhD Candidate, University of Wollongong

• Fran Humphries – Associate Professor in Environmental Law, Griffith University Law School
• Amelia Westmoreland – Scientific Researcher for 3Bio & Engagement Strategist
• Marcel Jaspars – Professor of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen
• Abbe Brown – Professor in Intellectual Property Law, University of Aberdeen

Editing:

• Bettina Otterbeck – Freelance Video Editor

Communications:

• Sunnefa Yeatman – PhD Candidate, ANCORS

Further readingHumphries, F. (ed.) (2025). Decoding Marine Genetic Resource Governance under the BBNJ Agreement (Springer):

Chapter 8 (on TK)

Chapter 9 (on Intellectual Property Rights)

Chapter 11 (Interlinkages with other bodies)

 BBNJ Agreement & Official Website