BBNJ agreement targets two-thirds of oceans beyond national boundaries after two decades of talks

The United Nations’ landmark treaty to safeguard biodiversity on the high seas has crossed the threshold of 60 ratifications, ensuring that it will come into effect on 17 January 2026. Morocco and Sierra Leone became the 60th and 61st states to ratify the pact on Friday.

Formally called 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), the treaty was adopted in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiations. It applies to two-thirds of the world’s ocean area that lies beyond national boundaries.

The agreement establishes legally binding rules for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity, including the fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, the creation of marine protected areas, and enhanced scientific cooperation and capacity building.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the development as a “historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism”. He said: “In two years, states have turned commitment into action – proving what is possible when nations unite for the common good.”

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said the ocean was the foundation of human existence and called the ratification milestone an important step forward.

The BBNJ agreement builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, often referred to as the “constitution for the oceans”. Once in force, it will provide a framework to help achieve international biodiversity targets, including the goal of protecting 30 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Mr Guterres urged all remaining UN member states to join the treaty and called for support to ensure its full implementation. “The ocean’s health is humanity’s health,” he said.