The United Kingdom has taken an important step in international marine conservation: the legislation to implement the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) has received Royal Assent (“Royal Assent“). This allows the country to ratify the UN high seas agreement and implement it nationally.
From political commitment to implementation
The BBNJ Agreement was adopted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and aims to protect and sustainably use biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, that is, on the high seas. These areas make up around two thirds of the world’s oceans, but until now they have been insufficiently regulated at the international level.
With the Royal Assent now granted, the United Kingdom has the legal basis to implement key elements of the Agreement. These include, among other things, the designation of marine protected areas in international waters, mandatory environmental impact assessments for certain activities, and regulations on access to marine genetic resources.
Strengthening global ocean policy
The law underlines the UK’s commitment to the international goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, also known as the ’30×30′ target. By implementing the BBNJ framework, the United Kingdom can actively participate in international decision-making processes to protect the high seas.
Ecosystems beyond national jurisdiction are increasingly under pressure from overfishing, climate change, pollution and new uses such as deep-sea mining. The new law aims to strengthen international cooperation, promote sustainable management and close existing regulatory gaps.
International cooperation is crucial
The effectiveness of the BBNJ agreement depends largely on broad ratification and coordinated implementation by as many states as possible. With the entry into force of national implementing laws, the agreement is expected to play a central role in global ocean governance going forward.
The UK government describes the Royal Assent to the BBNJ Act as an important step from political promise to concrete action – with the aim of protecting marine ecosystems in the long term and preserving the biodiversity of the oceans for future generations.