A female orca splitting a herring bait ball
Andy Schmid, UN World Oceans Day 2023 photo competition / Andy Schmid

Under the overall objective of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, for the present and in the long-term, through effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Convention and further international cooperation and coordination, the Agreement addresses four main issues:

  • Marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits;

  • Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas;

  • Environmental impact assessments; and

  • Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

The Agreement also addresses a number of “cross-cutting issues”, establishes a funding mechanism and sets up institutional arrangements, including a Conference of the Parties and various subsidiary bodies, a Clearing-House Mechanism and a secretariat.

The Agreement is open for signature by all States and regional economic integration organizations from 20 September 2023 to 20 September 2025, and will enter into force 120 days after the date of deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession.

Status of 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

New

Capacity Needs and Priority Assessment (Latin American States) (30 June 2025 deadline - APPLY HERE)

PrepCom II Cooperation arrangements with relevant legal instruments and frameworks, and relevant global, regional and subregional bodies: Open call for inputs from relevant legal instruments and frameworks, and relevant global, regional and subregional bodies

BBNJ Case study Consultant (EU Funded BBNJ Project) (16 April 2025 deadline)

General Assembly resolution 79/271: "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" adopted on 4 March 2025 (A/RES/79/271)

Online briefing by the Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Commission established by resolution 78/272 on 12 March 2025 (Recording)

Documents for the first session of the Preparatory Commission established by resolution 78/272 are now available (First session)

Notification on the Regional Workshop for States of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Africa (English/French)

General Assembly decision 78/560: "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" adopted on 13 August 2024 (provisionally available as A/78/L.102)

List of participants in the organizational meeting of the Preparatory Commission established by resolution 78/272 (A/AC.296/2024/INF/2)

Notification on the Regional Workshop for Latin America on the BBNJ Agreement (English / Spanish)

Notification on the Regional Workshop for Caribbean small island developing States on the BBNJ Agreement

Statement of the Co-Chair of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of 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 and the Convening of the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement at the closing of the organizational meeting (A/AC.296/2024/4)

General Assembly resolution 78/272: "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" adopted on 24 April 2024 (A/RES/78/272)