BBNJ: "Unresolved political issues unrelated to ocean conservation cannot slow the Treaty implementation"

"Unresolved political issues unrelated to ocean conservation cannot slow the High Seas Treaty's implementation at a critical moment for the ocean", warned the High Seas Alliance (HSA) on 02/04/2026.

This statement was made at the end of the third and final session of the UN's Preparatory Commission for the BBNJ Agreement, which agreed on the Treaty’s set-up for its first Conference of Parties in January 2027

Despite "meaningful progress in several key areas, including the structure and functioning of most subsidiary bodies, [...] negotiations lost momentum towards the end of the session".

The HSA cited in particular, "last minute reservations" from some State to restrict observer participation, included in the Rules of Procedure of the COP.

Finally, the Alliance specified that a “two-step” compromise had been found, allowing States to object to observers but deferring the final decision to the COPs, who could then overturn such objections. However, the Alliance added that "this approach still introduces uncertainty".

Outstanding institutional decisions include, "the Secretariat’s…