Enviro News Asia, Rome — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), describing it as a major milestone in global ocean governance.
The legally binding treaty entered into force on 17 January 2026 after nearly two decades of negotiations. It currently has 145 signatories and 81 Parties. The agreement aims to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity in international waters, which lie beyond the jurisdiction of individual states.
The BBNJ Agreement addresses four core areas: marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building and technology transfer. It also requires cross-sectoral coordination to regulate human activities in international waters, including fishing, shipping, seabed mining, and scientific research.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Manuel Barange said the treaty fills long-standing governance gaps in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans. He emphasized FAO’s readiness to support implementation through its technical expertise, data systems, and long-standing cooperation with regional fisheries bodies.
International waters support significant fishing activity, with around 11 million tonnes of aquatic species harvested annually, mainly tuna, billfish, and sharks. Fishing in these areas is currently managed through regional fisheries management organizations, which FAO said will play a critical role in implementing the new agreement through science-based rules, monitoring systems, and capacity development.
FAO highlighted that reliable data will be central to the treaty’s success. The organization will contribute global fisheries data, stock assessments, and monitoring tools such as the Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS). FAO will also expand capacity-building support for countries, drawing on its experience in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Through initiatives such as the Common Oceans Program, FAO and its partners have already demonstrated that coordinated global action can deliver measurable benefits for tuna stocks and vulnerable marine species. FAO said this experience will be instrumental in supporting the effective and equitable implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
FAO reaffirmed that protecting marine biodiversity is fundamental to sustainable fisheries and global food security, and called the new treaty a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation for healthier oceans. (*)
