A landmark global treaty aimed at protecting biodiversity in international waters entered into force on 17th January, giving countries a legally binding framework to address threats such as overfishing and to work towards protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
The United Nations agreement, formally known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), was finalised in March 2023 after 15 years of negotiations. It enables the establishment of a global network of marine protected areas across the high seas, which account for around two-thirds of the ocean and have historically remained largely unregulated.
“It’s two-thirds of the ocean, and it’s half the surface of the planet that for the first time will have a comprehensive legal regime,” said Adam McCarthy, first assistant secretary at the Australian foreign ministry and co-chair of the treaty’s preparatory committee, speaking at a media briefing.
The treaty reached the required threshold of 60 national ratifications on 19 September last year, triggering its entry into force 120 days later. Since then, the number of ratifications has risen to more than 80, with countries including China, Brazil and Japan joining. Britain and Australia are expected to ratify the agreement, while the United States has signed but not yet ratified the treaty.
“Whilst we only needed 60 for it to enter into force, it’s really critical for its implementation and for it to be as effective as possible for us to achieve global or universal ratification of the treaty,” said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. “We’re really aiming for all UN member states to ratify the treaty.”
Under the agreement, countries are required to conduct environmental impact assessments for activities that could affect ocean ecosystems. The treaty also establishes mechanisms to share benefits from the so-called blue economy, including marine genetic resources used in sectors such as biotechnology.
Environmental groups say meeting the “30 by 30” target will require the creation of more than 190,000 marine protected areas. At present, only around 8% of the global ocean area — about 29 million square kilometres — is under some form of protection.
However, the treaty does not address deep-sea mining, which some conservationists view as one of the most significant emerging threats to marine ecosystems. “BBNJ is very ambitious but there are certain defined limits,” McCarthy said. “The question of mining in the substrate or in the seabed simply belongs to the ISA. It’s not something where the BBNJ gets a role,” he added, referring to the International Seabed Authority.
