The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has welcomed the UK’s ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement (also known as the High Seas Treaty), a landmark international agreement designed to strengthen the protection of marine biodiversity across areas beyond national jurisdiction, which cover nearly two-thirds of the global ocean.
The agreement establishes the first comprehensive legal framework for protecting biodiversity on the high seas, including mechanisms to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), strengthen environmental impact assessments, support scientific collaboration and ensure the fair sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources. These resources have important potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and scientific research.
The UK played a leading role in shaping the agreement and was among the first countries to sign it in 2023. Ratification enables the UK to play a full role in implementing the treaty and contributes to global efforts to protect 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
Professor Willie Wilson, Chief Executive of the Marine Biological Association, said:
“The UK’s ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement is a landmark moment for global ocean stewardship. For the first time, we have an international framework capable of delivering meaningful protection for biodiversity across the vast areas of ocean beyond national borders.
“Healthy oceans are fundamental to climate regulation, food security, economic resilience and the wellbeing of coastal communities. This agreement provides an unprecedented opportunity to safeguard vulnerable habitats and species, while ensuring that future use of marine resources is guided by sustainability and sound science.
“The Marine Biological Association welcomes this commitment and looks forward to supporting its implementation through world-leading marine research, long-term monitoring and scientific expertise. Effective conservation depends on robust evidence, and the MBA’s research community will continue to play a vital role in helping governments and international partners understand, protect and restore marine ecosystems for future generations.”
Earlier this year, the MBA welcomed the legislation that enabled UK ratification of the agreement, highlighting the importance of ensuring that future conservation measures are underpinned by robust scientific evidence. The treaty aligns closely with the MBA’s longstanding mission to advance scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and support evidence-based conservation and sustainable management of the ocean.
For more than 140 years, MBA scientists have generated vital knowledge about marine biodiversity, ecosystem change and ocean health through long-term research and monitoring programmes. As countries begin implementing the BBNJ Agreement, the MBA’s expertise will help to provide the scientific evidence needed to identify, protect and manage important marine habitats and species for future generations.
The agreement establishes the first comprehensive legal framework for protecting biodiversity on the high seas. c. Marine Biological Association
