On 16 June 2026, Evgeniya Elkina represented the DynArc project on dynamic ocean management in the Arctic at the World Biodiversity Forum 2026, contributing to a workshop titled "Implementing the BBNJ Agreement: How to Effectively Protect Biodiversity in the High Seas". The session brought together scientists and policy experts to examine how the recently adopted Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) can be translated into effective, on-the-ground protection for marine ecosystems in international waters. The workshop was convened by Jan-Claas Dajka (HIFMB) and Helmut Hillebrand (University of Oldenburg, HIFMB).

The workshop opened with a thematic block on "Challenges to Dynamic Area-Based Management Tool (ABMT) Design under BBNJ Agreement", in which DynArc partners presented their research. The session began with Christian Rischer (IfW Kiel), whose presentation, "Making Dynamic ABMTs Work: Governance Potentials and Non-Party Enforcement", provided background on the context of dynamic ABMTs before turning to enforcement strategies for non-signatory states and the general process of implementing dynamic ABMTs under UNCLOS. Following this, Evgeniya Elkina presented DynArc's work on "Potentials for Dynamic ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement", covering key definitions, the ABMTs establishment process under the BBNJ Agreement, and the current legal limitations and opportunities for enabling dynamic tools under the Agreement.

The workshop also featured presentations on other tools for high seas protection. Under the topic "OECMs in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) – Promises and Pitfalls", Leonie Dziomba (ZMT) discussed low-cost monitoring as a means of enabling recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs). A further thematic block, "Integrating MPAs, OECMs, and EBSAs – Cross-Sectoral Pathways", included contributions from Chhaya Chaudhary (University of Hamburg) on using the Convention on Biological Diversity's Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) for coherent spatial planning and from Torsten Grothmann and Sina Berends (University of Oldenburg) on lessons for BBNJ implementation drawn from research on science-policy interfaces in marine biodiversity governance. 

Together, the presentations underscored the complexity of designing conservation tools that are both scientifically robust and politically workable, which is one of the central challenges as states begin preparing for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) in January 2027 and translating the BBNJ Agreement's ambitions into concrete high seas measures.