UN High seas biodiversity treaty becomes effective in January 2026

1. Treaty Status

• Status of Ratification: Has obtained 60 necessary ratifications.
• Entry into Force: January 2026 (within it 17 January 2026)
• Recent Ratifications: Sierra Leone (61 st ) and Morocco (60 th).
• Official Title: Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)

2. Historical Context

• Adoption Date: June 2023
• Negotiation Period: almost twenty years of international debates.
• Legal System: a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) system.

3. Geographic Scope

• Coverage Area: Two-thirds of two oceans of the world.
• Definition Areas outside national jurisdiction (outside Exclusive Economic Zones).
• Boundary: At the borders of EEZs, to a distance of 270 nautical miles off-shore.

4. Global Significance

• Biodiversity Protection: Favors Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Target 30x30: Works towards the preservation of 30 of the land and sea by 2030.
• Environmental Governance: Consents to international structure of conservation of high seas.
• Sustainable Use: Strikes the balance between conservation and sensible use of resources.

This historic accord is indeed a significant leap in the governance of environmental factors in the world, as it sets up legal frameworks to safeguard the marine biodiversity in the international waters, as well as enhance sustainable developmental practices.