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1. Consultations on proposals submitted under article 19 shall be inclusive, transparent and open to all relevant stakeholders, including States and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies, as well as civil society, the scientific community, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
2. The secretariat shall facilitate consultations and gather input as follows:
a) States, in particular adjacent coastal States, shall be notified and invited to submit, inter alia: (i) Views on the merits and geographic scope of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Information regarding any existing measures or activities in adjacent or related areas within national jurisdiction and beyond national jurisdiction;
(iv) Views on the potential implications of the proposal for areas within national jurisdiction;
(v) Any other relevant information;
(i) Views on the merits and geographic scope of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Information regarding any existing measures or activities in adjacent or related areas within national jurisdiction and beyond national jurisdiction;
(iv) Views on the potential implications of the proposal for areas within national jurisdiction;
(v) Any other relevant information;
b) Bodies of relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies shall be notified and invited to submit, inter alia: (i) Views on the merits of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Information regarding any existing measures adopted by that instrument, framework or body for the relevant area or for adjacent areas;
(iv) Views regarding any aspects of the measures and other elements for a draft management plan identified in the proposal that fall within the competence of that body;
(v) Views regarding any relevant additional measures that fall within the competence of that instrument, framework or body;
(vi) Any other relevant information;
(i) Views on the merits of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Information regarding any existing measures adopted by that instrument, framework or body for the relevant area or for adjacent areas;
(iv) Views regarding any aspects of the measures and other elements for a draft management plan identified in the proposal that fall within the competence of that body;
(v) Views regarding any relevant additional measures that fall within the competence of that instrument, framework or body;
(vi) Any other relevant information;
c) Indigenous Peoples and local communities with relevant traditional knowledge, the scientific community, civil society and other relevant stakeholders shall be invited to submit, inter alia: (i) Views on the merits of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Any relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;
(iv) Any other relevant information.
(i) Views on the merits of the proposal;
(ii) Any other relevant scientific input;
(iii) Any relevant traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities;
(iv) Any other relevant information.
3. Contributions received pursuant to paragraph 2 above shall be made publicly available by the secretariat.
4. In cases where the proposed measure affects areas that are entirely surrounded by the exclusive economic zones of States, proponents shall:
a) Undertake targeted and proactive consultations, including prior notification, with such States;
b) Consider the views and comments of such States on the proposed measure and provide written responses specifically addressing such views and comments and, where appropriate, revise the proposed measure accordingly.
5. The proponent shall consider the contributions received during the consultation period, as well as the views of and information from the Scientific and Technical Body, and, as appropriate, revise the proposal accordingly or respond to substantive contributions not reflected in the proposal.
6. The consultation period shall be time-bound.
7. The revised proposal shall be submitted to the Scientific and Technical Body, which shall assess the proposal and make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties.
8. The modalities for the consultation and assessment process, including duration, shall be further elaborated by the Scientific and Technical Body, as necessary, at its first meeting, for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties, taking into account the special circumstances of small island developing States.