Abstract:

The traditional knowledge of Arctic Indigenous Peoples is crucial for the protection of the Arctic marine ecosystem. The BBNJ Agreement offers a substantial opportunity for international law to more comprehensively recognize the significance of traditional knowledge and its guardians in ocean governance and marine environment management. It also establishes a legal framework for the implementation of area-based management tools (ABMTs) beyond national authority. This article seeks to examine the role and importance of traditional knowledge held by Arctic Indigenous Peoples in the creation of Area-Based Management Tools beyond national authority. Three unique ways can be employed to integrate traditional knowledge from Arctic Indigenous Peoples into Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) in the Arctic marine region. This involves utilizing Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge to assist States in pinpointing regions and formulating recommendations, engaging through regional organizational frameworks such as the Arctic Council, and participating through the processes of the BBNJ Agreement.