A landmark global ocean agreement, known as the High Seas Treaty or the BBNJ Agreement, will enter into force on 17 January 2026, marking the first time the international community has a legally binding framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which cover nearly half of the planet.
The treaty’s entry into force represents a major shift in global ocean governance, triggering immediate obligations for States that have ratified the agreement. These include promoting conservation objectives across international forums, strengthening cooperation on marine science and technology transfer, and ensuring that environmental impact assessments for planned activities meet the treaty’s standards.
Although key institutions such as the treaty Secretariat and Clearing-House Mechanism are still being established, several provisions apply from the moment the agreement enters into force. Observers say this signals the start of implementation rather than a symbolic milestone, with tangible implications for how the global ocean is managed and protected.
To provide clarity on what implementation will look like in practice, a virtual media briefing has been scheduled to outline the transition from treaty adoption to operationalisation. The briefing will cover the roadmap from the BBNJ Preparatory Commission, which is currently discussing the institutional setup of the treaty, to the first Conference of the Parties, expected to take place ahead of January 2027. The session will also address early implementation steps, priority biodiversity hotspots and potential first-generation High Seas Marine Protected Areas, followed by a question-and-answer session with experts.
The Preparatory Commission continues to lay the groundwork for the treaty’s governance structures, including the Secretariat, Scientific and Technical Body and the Access and Benefit-Sharing Committee. These institutions are expected to play a central role in guiding implementation once the first Conference of the Parties convenes.
The first Conference of the Parties is widely regarded as a decisive moment for the treaty. Governments will be expected to adopt rules of procedure, determine financial arrangements, finalise institutional structures and agree on processes that enable the designation of marine protected areas, scientific cooperation initiatives and reporting on marine genetic resources. Decisions taken at this stage are expected to influence both the pace and effectiveness of implementation.
With entry into force, attention is also shifting to the creation of a global network of High Seas Marine Protected Areas. While formal approval processes will depend on the treaty’s institutions, countries can already begin preparing proposals based on the best available science and wide consultation. Issues such as financing, monitoring, enforcement and the integration of traditional knowledge and Indigenous perspectives are expected to be central to these discussions.
The High Seas Alliance has identified several areas that could form part of the first generation of High Seas Marine Protected Areas, including the Emperor Seamounts, the Sargasso Sea, and the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges. According to the alliance, protection in these areas could deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and ecosystem health.
A media pack accompanying the briefing includes explainer materials such as a treaty question-and-answer document, a technical brief on obligations at entry into force, factsheets on marine protected areas and the Preparatory Commission process, as well as a newly released cost-benefit analysis focused on the Caribbean. The analysis examines the economic, legal and institutional implications of treaty ratification for Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, concluding that all three countries would experience positive net economic benefits, even without the immediate establishment of High Seas Marine Protected Areas.
To mark the treaty’s entry into force and encourage continued momentum toward universal ratification and effective implementation, the High Seas Alliance and partner organisations are planning a celebratory webinar scheduled for 19 January, with further details to be announced.
