Taoiseach Mícheál Martin at the United Nations after ratifying the BBNJ Treaty for Ireland

From Ambition to Action

The ‘Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction’ (BBNJ) Treaty has officially
entered into force, marking a significant step forward in global ocean governance.

After nearly two decades of negotiations and years of ratification efforts, there is now a
global framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond
national jurisdiction. These vast areas, known as the high seas and the deep seabed, lie
outside the maritime borders of any single country and depend on collective international
governance, yet they face mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and
biodiversity loss.

What difference can the BBNJ Treaty make?

It is the very first international treaty specifically designed to safeguard marine life in areas
beyond national jurisdiction. Together, these areas cover around two-thirds of the ocean,
nearly 95% of its volume, and almost half of the Earth’s surface.

At present, just over 1% of these areas fall within marine protected areas (MPAs). Yet they
support marine ecosystems and resources of immense ecological, economic, social and
scientific value. Despite their importance for both people and the planet, they have long
been poorly governed and under-protected.

By establishing a global legal framework and practical tools to improve the protection and
sustainable use of the ocean, the BBNJ Treaty helps to address long-standing governance
gaps in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

In particular, the Treaty establishes four core pillars, as well as cross-cutting issues:

-The designation of large-scale marine protected areas on the high seas;

-The requirement for environmental impact assessments for activities that may
cause harm to the marine environment in these areas beyond national
jurisdiction;

-Improved sharing of marine scientific knowledge and technology, alongside
funding and capacity building support, particularly for developing nations;

-Fair and equitable benefit sharing of marine genetic resources.
Together, these provisions mark a major step forward in global ocean governance, with the
potential to deliver real and tangible benefits for marine biodiversity.

Two Decades in the Making

The Treaty is the culmination of nearly two decades of international engagement and
advocacy to address governance gaps that had left areas beyond national jurisdiction
vulnerable to exploitation and degradation.

As the third implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), the BBNJ Treaty is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal
14 (“Life Below Water”) under Agenda 2030, and to advancing the Kunming-Montreal
Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) 30×30 target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

 

A Milestone in global efforts to protect our ocean

The international community has demonstrated strong support for this key treaty. Once it
opened for signature in September 2023, it reached the threshold of 60 ratifications just over
2 years after its adoption, triggering its entry into force on 17 January 2026.
As of January 2026, 84 countries have ratified the treaty, including Ireland, with 145 signatories
signalling their intention to do so.

 

Global uptake of the BBNJ Treaty to date.

The High Seas Treaty Ratification Tracker lets you see exactly which countries have ratified, signed, or not yet taken action as of January 2026.

Following the Irish Government’s decision to ratify the Treaty in September 2025, Ireland’s
Tánaiste Simon Harris stated:

“This historic Agreement reinforces the multilateral system and is a major victory for
international ocean governance and the protection of the marine environment.
Ireland is fully committed to working alongside our international partners to realise
the Agreement’s full potential.”

For Fair Seas and ocean advocates, this relatively swift ratification process for an
international treaty reflects the urgency of the challenges facing the ocean and the growing
global momentum for action. It is not only a legal achievement but a significant milestone in
global efforts to protect marine biodiversity worldwide.

While the BBNJ Treaty establishes, for the first time, a global framework to propose,
designate and manage marine protected areas on the high seas, important work remains
closer to home. Ireland is still awaiting robust national legislation to enable the effective
designation and management of an ecologically coherent network of MPAs within its own
waters. Closing this gap will be critical to ensuring that international leadership on marine
protection is matched by action at home.

 

What happens now?
The attention now turns to robust implementation and delivering on the ambition of the BBNJ
Treaty.

1. Groundwork for implementation
Preparatory work is already underway through the BBNJ Preparatory Commission
(PrepCom) at the United Nations, laying the foundations for the Treaty’s institutional
structures and processes. The first Conference of the Parties (CoP 1) must convene within
one year, likely in late 2026.

2. Identifying critical High Seas Marine Protected Areas
Efforts to identify critical areas for potential High Seas marine protected areas are
advancing. The 2025 UN Ocean Conference in France showcased potential areas, including
the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, the West Indian Ocean Sub-Antarctic, the Salas y Gomez
and Nazca Ridges and the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea.

3. Ensuring universal participation
Broad participation will be critical to the Treaty’s success. Universal ratification or accession,
meaning the participation by as many countries as possible, will be essential to securing
legitimacy, greater global buy-in, and the effective delivery of the Treaty’s ambition to protect
and sustainably use marine biodiversity in our shared oceans.

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