Almost two decades in the making, an international agreement to protect and sustainably use marine life in international waters and the international seabed came into force on Saturday, 17 January , marking a major step forward in efforts to ensure the health of ocean ecosystems for decades to come.
Officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the legally binding UN treaty covers the ocean zones that lie beyond national waters (namely, the “high seas”) and the international seabed area.
These regions make up over two-thirds of the ocean’s surface, representing over 90 per cent of Earth’s habitat by volume. This is because the ocean is vast, and most living space on Earth is underwater.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that in a world of accelerating crises the agreement “fills a critical governance gap to secure a resilient and productive ocean for all. Let us now move swiftly to universal and full implementation.”
Source: UN News
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