Following decades of international negotiations, the world enters a new era of ocean governance today. On January 17, 2026, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) officially entered into force, establishing the first-ever legally binding framework to protect life in international waters.
Commonly known as the “High Seas Treaty,” the BBNJ Agreement covers roughly two-thirds of the ocean that lies outside national boundaries. These waters have historically been a “wild west” with fragmented regulations; this treaty provides a unified legal structure to ensure the sustainable management of marine resources.
The treaty focuses on four key areas to ensure the ocean remains healthy and productive for generations to come:
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Marine Genetic Resources: Ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from deep-sea discoveries.
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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Establishing tools to create “parks at sea” to protect vulnerable ecosystems.
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Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Setting global standards for assessing the impact of human activities on international waters.
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Capacity Building: Facilitating the transfer of marine technology to developing nations.
Welcoming this historic milestone, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the importance of global cooperation. “The world has demonstrated that countries can come together with a common vision to manage the ocean sustainably. Now we must continue working together to put these rules into action,” said Mr. Dominguez. “The IMO is ready to support the BBNJ implementation within our sphere of expertise.”
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) already oversees more than 50 globally binding treaties that regulate shipping. The BBNJ Agreement will work alongside existing IMO instruments to enhance marine protection, including:
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MARPOL: For the prevention of ship-source pollution.
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The Ballast Water Management Convention: To stop the spread of invasive species.
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The London Convention/Protocol: Regulating the dumping of waste at sea.
As the BBNJ framework takes hold, the IMO continues to advance additional measures, including new regulations regarding ship biofouling and guidelines to reduce underwater noise that affects marine life.
The BBNJ Agreement was adopted in June 2023. Its entry into force follows ratification by more than 80 nations, signaling a massive global commitment to the protection of the “blue heart” of our planet.
