This policy brief is part of the Nereus Scientific & Technical Briefs on Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) series. The briefs are products of a workshop held prior to the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John’s, Newfoundland (July-August 2016). These briefs were prepared for the second meeting of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Prep Com, held from August 26 – September 9, at the UN.