The High Seas Treaty, formerly known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), achieved a milestone of 60 ratifications (legally binding).
The Agreement is the first legally binding international framework dedicated to protect marine life in areas beyond national jurisdiction, also known as High Seas.
Four new countries announced this month at the United Nations are Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone and Morocco.
Palau became the first country to ratify the Agreement on 22 January 2024, and states from every region around the world have since joined the effort. This achievement triggers the Agreement’s entry into force in 120 days, on 17 January 2026.
Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, said “the ratification of this Treaty is a powerful testament to what the world can achieve when we unite for the common good of our ocean. IUCN is proud to host the secretariat for the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition, to continue the political momentum beyond ratification to ensure equitable and fair implementation.”
Preparatory work is underway at the UN to establish the necessary institutions and processes for the first Conference of the Parties (CoP), which must convene within a year of the Treaty’s entry into force, and will be responsible for securing the long-term effectiveness of the Agreement.
Researchers at the Institute for Security Studies, Dhesigan Naidoo, David Willima and Denys Reva, said “African states must consider how best to translate this diplomatic victory into meaningful benefits at home. National domestication of the treaty’s provisions is required, along with building scientific and enforcement capabilities, and fostering collective action across regional bodies.”
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