It is a significant step towards the conservation and sustainable utilisation of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

BBNJ Agreement

• It is an agreement under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.
• It is also referred as High Seas Treaty.
  • ‘High Seas’ are areas beyond national jurisdiction which are global common oceans open to all for internationally lawful purposes such as navigation, overflight, laying submarine cables and pipelines, etc.
• It was adopted in 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
• It will become international law only when it is signed and ratified by at least 60 countries.
• It is the third implementing agreement to UNCLOS with the other two being 1994 Agreement related to the implementation of UNCLOS and the 1995 U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement 
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences is implementing the agreement in India.

Agreement addresses four main issues

• Marine genetic resources, including fair and equitable sharing of benefits
• Measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas
• Environmental impact assessments
• Capacity-building & transfer of marine technology