The BBNJ Agreement is now an international law, filling a critical gap by strengthening international cooperation on ocean protection, and introducing key mechanisms such as environmental impact assessments for activities with potential biodiversity impacts.
by Blue Africa News
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the world’s first global treaty to protect ocean life in international waters has entered into force, targeting sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters.
BBNJ came into force on January 17, 2026, bringing into effect legally-binding rules for the sustainable use and management of marine resources in the high seas.
Also known as the High Seas Treaty, the BBJN Agreement addresses 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.
Welcoming the milestone, Arsenio Dominguez, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary General said the IMO stands ready to support the BBNJ implementation within “IMO’s sphere of expertise.”
“The world has demonstrated that countries can come together with a common vision and build a framework to manage the ocean sustainably while ensuring its benefits are shared fairly amongst all humanity. Now we must continue working together to put these rules into action. IMO is ready to support the BBNJ implementation within IMO’s sphere of expertise,” he said, as per IMO communication.
The BBNJ Agreement entered into force following its adoption in June 2023, after over a decade of negotiations and preparatory works. More than 80 nations have ratified the Agreement to date.
Seychelles, Mauritius, Morocco, Malawi and Sierra Leone are among the over 30 African countries to have ratified the High Seas Treaty before it came into force.
Morocco and Sierra Leone become the 60th and 61st countries to ratify the treaty in September 2025, triggering its entry into force by January 2026, attracting positive sentiments from United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
“I welcome this historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism. In two years, States have turned commitment into action – proving what is possible when nations unite for the common good,” he said in a statement by the UN.
“Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the Agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity, share benefits more fairly, create protected areas, and advance science and capacity building. As we confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this Agreement is a lifeline for the ocean and humanity. The ocean’s health is humanity’s health.”
Experts have hailed the treaty’s entry into force, terming it a new global standard responsible for ocean stewardship.
“As this agreement comes into effect, it sets a new global standard for responsible ocean stewardship, with direct relevance for offshore activities, marine spatial planning, environmental licensing and long-term sustainability,” said Venina Pires Ribeiro, a renewable energy consultant in a recent post on LinkedIn.
The Agreement, she added, fills a critical gap by strengthening international cooperation and introducing key mechanisms such as environmental impact assessments for activities with potential biodiversity impacts, area-based management tools, fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources and capacity building and technology transfer to support global participation.
Ali Haji, Tanzanian diplomat 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 no control of the activity in the high seas. For instance, when you pollute, you are responsible for your acts,” he said, as quoted by UN News.
“When you negotiate something, you can’t get 100 percent people to ratify it or to accept it in one term. Some just observe and then, when they see the advantages, they join. I believe that, in the future others will join,” he added, speaking on the possibility of countries such as Russia which are yet to sign the treaty, to ratify it at some point.
The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) said the BBNJ Treaty is a major step forward for global ocean protection, noting that as a leading maritime nation, “Kenya has a key role to play in advancing conservation, science, and equitable use of marine resources beyond national jurisdiction.”
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News
