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The High Seas Treaty, officially called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, came into force on 17 January 2026. It is the first legally binding global agreement aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement:
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, is a legally binding international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) designed to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine life in international waters
The agreement has four main pillars:
- Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs): Ensures fair sharing of benefits (monetary and non-monetary) from marine resources in international waters.
- Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs): Enables creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to help achieve the 30% ocean protection target by 2030.
- Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Establishes global norms to assess environmental impacts of activities in the high seas.
- Capacity Building & Technology Transfer: Supports developing countries in marine research and sustainable use of ocean resources.
