The High Seas Treaty (BBNJ)

Adopted in 2023, the BBNJ Agreement aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the "High Seas"). This covers nearly two-thirds of the global ocean.

The Path to 60 Ratifications

The treaty requires 60 UN member states to ratify it before it enters into force. As of our latest tracking, ratification is progressing slowly due to the complex domestic legislation required to integrate the treaty's mandate on marine genetic resources (MGRs).

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

The treaty provides a legal mechanism to establish MPAs on the high seas, which is critical for achieving the "30x30" goal (protecting 30% of the earth's land and sea by 2030). Previously, high seas conservation relied on a patchwork of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) with varying enforcement capabilities.

Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs)

A central tenet of the BBNJ is the equitable sharing of benefits arising from MGRs—such as novel enzymes used in pharmaceuticals discovered in deep-sea extremophiles. The treaty establishes a clearing-house mechanism to ensure developing nations can access these scientific advancements.