The conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in international waters poses significant challenges and is a key issue at the intersection of science and policy. These areas cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean's surface and are crucial for meeting the '30x30 target'. However, they are under intense pressure from human activities, resulting in extensive international negotiations and controversy. Effective governance and management are therefore essential to ensure their future sustainability. This thesis aims to contribute to enhance conservation efforts in the Thermal Dome (Eastern Tropical Pacific) by synthesising diverse knowledge, identifying gaps and initiating the consultation of stakeholder and public policy for the development of future Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) under the BBNJ agreement. It operationalises the DAPSIR framework by systematically focusing on its core components (A) human activities, (P) pressures on the ecosystem (S) state embedded in an integrated ecosystem assessment (ODEMM approach) to identify the most important risk factors impacting different marine ecosystem state components. The research identified key activities and pressures on the ecosystem, as well as the main aspects requiring further investigation. This provides an excellent foundation for subsequent steps in supporting the conservation of the Thermal Dome.
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