The overarching goal of this paper is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in ABNJ. Discussions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in particular the Ad hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (AHWG), indicate that achieving this goal will require the development and implementation of a number of appropriate conservation instruments, such as networks of protected areas on the high seas, or standards for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) with regard to activities undertaken in ABNJ.