Ocean conservation: entering into force of the High seas Treaty (BBNJ) on 16/01/2026

The High seas Treaty - formally known as the Agreement on “Biodiversity Beyond National Juridiction” (BBNJ) enters into force on 17/01/2026, announced the European Commission.

So far, the agreement has been ratified by "81 parties, including the EU and 16 of its Member States, and signed by 145 countries".

This "significant milestone in ocean conservation and sustainable use of Ocean" will make it possible to :
• establish marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas ;
• regulate the exploitation of marine genetic resources - a measure to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 ;
• assess the environmental impact of current and future human activities ;
• support developing countries through capacity-building and marine technology transfer programmes".

"The EU and its Member States are currently engaged in preparatory discussions for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) which will take place within a year after the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement", the Commission said.

"The EU has also pledged support for the…