Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction

The United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement (referred to by some stakeholders as the High Seas Treaty or Global Ocean Treaty, and more formally known as 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) is a legally binding agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Adopted in June 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction convened under the auspices of the United Nations, and entering into force in January 2026, 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. Importantly, the provision for creating marine protected areas in international waters makes it possible to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030 - a key factor in achieving the global goal to designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030, as agreed in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 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.