BBNJ High Seas Treaty to Come into Force on 17 January 2026 After Securing 60 Ratifications.

On September 19, 2025, the Agreement under the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement) achieved 60 ratifications, followed by Morocco. The treaty, also called the High Seas Treaty, will officially come into force on 17 January 2026.

      - The BBNJ Treaty, the first legally binding framework for high-seas biodiversity (covering two-thirds of oceans), focuses on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), equitable benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources, and scientific cooperation.

      - As of September 2025, the BBNJ Agreement has been signed by 145 countries and ratified by 61 countries, with Morocco being the latest to ratify. The ratification threshold of 60 countries is required for the treaty to enter into force.

Main Point :-   (i) India signed the BBNJ Treaty on September 25, 2024, demonstrating support for marine biodiversity conservation, but has not yet completed the ratification process.

      (ii) Following the 60th ratification, the treaty will enter into force on 17 January 2026, 120 days after meeting the minimum threshold for legal enforcement, allowing countries to implement its provisions.

(iii) The BBNJ Treaty represents a historic milestone in international maritime law, providing a comprehensive framework to conserve high-seas biodiversity, regulate sustainable use, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing for all nations, reinforcing global marine environmental governance.