Almost two decades in the making, an international agreement to protect and sustainably use marine life in international waters and the international seabed was due to come into force on 17 January 2025, marking a major step forward in efforts to ensure the health of ocean ecosystems for decades to come.

Officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the legally binding UN treaty covers the ocean zones that lie beyond national waters (namely, the “high seas”) and the international seabed area. 

These regions make up over two-thirds of the ocean’s surface, representing over 90 per cent of Earth’s habitat by volume. This is because the ocean is vast, and most living space on Earth is underwater.

Secretary-General António Guterres said that the agreement "fills a critical governance gap to secure a resilient and productive ocean for all. Let us now move swiftly to universal and full implementation."

Why it matters

The BBNJ is designed to ensure that the “high seas” and international seabed are managed sustainably for the benefit of all humanity. 

It is also the first legally binding ocean instrument to provide for inclusive ocean governance, with provisions on the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and on gender balance.

It is hoped that, once it is fully implemented, the agreement will make a vital contribution to addressing the so-called “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

“When you pollute, you are responsible for your acts”

Speaking to UN News, Tanzanian diplomat Mzee Ali Haji, who led his country’s negotiation team during BBNJ discussions, said that the agreement marks a major step in the protection of international waters. 

“Everyone should bear in mind that there is now control of the activity in the high seas. For instance, when you pollute, you are responsible for your acts.”

The BBNJ strengthens the current international legal framework: it builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in effect the “constitution for the oceans,” which has set the rules for maritime and seabed exploitation and marine protection since it came into force in 1994.

The countries that have so far ratified the BBNJ include several major economies, notably China, Germany, Japan, France, and Brazil. 

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