The Common Heritage of Mankind, the Area and the Authority: Models for ABJN Management?

This paper asks whether the concept of Common Heritage of Mankind (CHOM) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) are good models for managing biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABJN). The preliminary assessment is that it is a bit of a mixed bag. The original CHOM concept certainly doesn’t stretch to cover biological resources, ecosystems or ecosystem goods and services, but it does have universalist elements. The ISA shows much promise and its novel features are promising. But some of the elements that make this different are also impediments to the sort of institution(s) the High Seas need.