The CBD elaborated programme of work on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, as contained in the annex to CBD decision VII/5, aims to assist the implementation of the Jakarta Mandate at the national, regional and global level. It identifies key operational objectives and priority activities within the five key programme elements, namely: implementation of integrated marine and coastal area management, marine and coastal living resources, marine and coastal protected areas, mariculture, and alien species and genotypes.

In paragraph 9 of decision VIII/14, the Conference of the Parties (COP) invited Parties to provide, on a voluntary basis, information for the in-depth review of thematic programmes included in the multi-year programme of work of the Conference of the Parties up to 2010.

The purpose of this report is to provide information on the progress made in the implementation of the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) at its fourteenth meeting.

Note that, in annex II of decision VIII/10, the COP decided to undertake the in-depth review of the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity at its tenth meeting, following its consideration by SBSTTA-14.