For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt.
Skip to main content
New
20% · 1/5
Lesson 13 min 20 XP

The BBNJ Treaty: A Deep Dive

The landmark agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and its potential to transform ocean governance.

Filling the Governance Gap

The Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, known as the BBNJ Treaty, was adopted in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiation. It addresses the largest governance gap in ocean law: the high seas and deep seabed beyond any country's jurisdiction, covering approximately 230 million square kilometers, nearly two-thirds of the ocean surface.

Before the BBNJ Treaty, the high seas were governed by freedom of the seas principles with limited conservation tools. RFMOs managed fisheries in specific areas, and the ISA governed seabed mining, but there was no mechanism to create comprehensive marine protected areas, conduct environmental impact assessments, or manage marine genetic resources. The result was a governance patchwork that left most of the ocean unprotected.