What is it?
To conserve biodiversity in areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction (the "High Seas"), the United Nations adopted the historic Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), also referred to as the "High Seas Treaty" on June 19th, 2023, following nearly two decades of negotiations.
The BBNJ Agreement has four main components:
- Marine genetic resources and benefit-sharing
- Area-based management tools, including marine protected areas (MPAs)
- Environmental impact assessments
- Capacity-building and transfer of marine technology
As of January 2026, 145 countries have signed the treaty, and 81 have ratified it.
Entry into Force
The BBNJ Agreement received the 60 ratifications necessary for entry into force on September 19, 2025, triggering a 120-day countdown that ends on January 17, 2026. At this point, signatories will have the ability to propose and implement measures for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Marine Conservation Institute has joined a global community of organizations, experts, and coalitions to build support for the treaty in 2026, and will focus on the effective implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) on the High Seas.
MPA Proposal Process
States that are parties to the treaty will be able to propose Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs), in areas beyond national jurisdiction. These MPA proposals will need to include conservation objectives, a draft management plan, and proposed associated measures to achieve these objectives.
MPA proposals will first go through a consultation process where the Secretariat will circulate them to all stakeholders, including relevant legal instruments and frameworks (IFBs) and the Science and Technical Body (STB). The STB will then review the proposals and send its recommendations to the Conference of the Parties (CoP). The CoP will establish the MPA and adopt the management plan, at which point the States must implement its measures and pursue measures to be adopted by IFBs.
At Marine Conservation Institute, we hope to support these MPA proposals through the development of our High Seas Protection Tracker, a tool that shows current ABMTs in the High Seas. We will also work closely with our partners at the High Seas Alliance, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, and Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition to support individual MPA campaigns and advocate for the highest levels of protection to ensure real, effective protection for the incredible diversity of life beyond national jurisdiction.
