Context-

The third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) concluded recently in Nice, France, with a major breakthrough for global ocean governance. The conference, which focused on protecting marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable use of the world’s oceans, saw significant movement towards ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty.

What is the BBNJ Treaty?

The High Seas Treaty aims to regulate human activities in international waters — parts of the ocean that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country. These areas, often termed “global commons”, are vulnerable to overfishing, unregulated mining, and exploitation of marine genetic resources. The BBNJ agreement supports the global target of protecting 30% of ocean and coastal areas by 2030, as per the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The treaty covers four key areas:

1.      Creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) beyond national jurisdiction

2.      Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for activities in the high seas

3.      Access to and sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources

4.      Capacity building and transfer of marine technology to developing nations

As of June 2025, 56 countries have ratified the treaty. 60 ratifications are required to trigger a 120-day countdown for it to become legally binding. 160 countries have signed the treaty, but ratification requires domestic legal alignment. The U.S. and India have not ratified it, though India has stated it is “in process.” The UN expects to reach 70 ratifications by September and host the first BBNJ Conference of Parties (COP) in 2026.

Hurdles in Implementation

The major challenge is determining how to fairly share benefits from marine genetic resources, often found in deep-sea environments. These have potential in medicine, biotech, and agriculture, but lie outside national control, raising issues of profit-sharing.

Environmental groups also point out the treaty lacks a clear ban on extraction, warning that without such restrictions, oceans remain vulnerable to exploitation.

Major Announcements at UNOC 2025

• European Commission: €1 billion for ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries
• French Polynesia: Creation of world’s largest marine protected area (entire EEZ, ~5 million sq km)
• New Zealand: $52 million for ocean governance in the Pacific
• Germany: €100 million to clear legacy munitions in Baltic and North Seas
• 37-nation High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean: Led by Panama and Canada to combat ocean noise pollution
• Italy: €6.5 million to boost marine surveillance
• Canada: $9 million for climate resilience in Small Island Developing States
• Spain: Five new marine protected areas to cover 25% of its marine territory
• UN Agencies: Launch of One Ocean Finance, a global initiative to mobilise investment in blue economy sectors

Conclusion:

As the BBNJ Treaty nears legal enforcement, the focus now shifts to ensuring meaningful implementation and genuine cooperation among nations to protect the high seas — one of the planet’s last ungoverned frontiers