Dear colleagues: Please save the date for the workshop on Capacity Development to Improve the Management of Marine Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ): Needs, Experiences, Options, and Opportunities to be held on 18-21 May 2016 in St. George’s, Grenada. The workshop, organized by the Global Ocean Forum (GOF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the University of Delaware’s Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy, and the project partners of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)/FAO/GOF Project on Strengthening Capacity to Effectively Manage ABNJ, is hosted by the Government of Grenada and will be part of the Blue Week & Investment Conference (14-22 May 2016). The Workshop will bring together various stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, civil society, and national and regional ocean leaders to: 1. Discuss and exchange information and perspectives towards a broader understanding of the needs and opportunities in the development of capacity regarding ABNJ; 2. Contribute information on capacity development to the global deliberations towards a legally-binding international instrument on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; and 3. Formulate next steps in the way forward in advancing capacity development regarding ABNJ, building on past and ongoing initiatives and experiences (especially the outputs of the GEF/FAO Common Oceans Program), and responding to global prescriptions on capacity development regarding marine resources and their management. Formal invitation and detailed workshop agenda will follow. Please kindly check the Global Ocean Forum website for forthcoming information about the workshop. Individuals/groups wishing to make a presentation or organize a side event at the ABNJ Capacity Development workshop, should send an email explaining their interest to Ujwala Ramakrishna (ujwalakm@udel.edu) by 2 May 2016. Individuals/groups wishing to participate in the Workshop, should fill out a registration form and send to Miriam Balgos (miriambalgos@globaloceans.org) by 9 May 2016. Best regards, Biliana Cicin-Sain President, Global Ocean Forum On behalf of the GEF/FAO/Global Ocean Forum (GOF) Project on Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction