Washington, D.C., December 18, 2024 — Today, President Joe Biden officially transmitted the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the High Seas Treaty or BBNJ Agreement, to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. This move marks a critical step in global efforts to protect and sustainably manage the biodiversity of the world’s oceans, especially in areas beyond national jurisdiction — the vast and largely unregulated high seas that cover nearly two-thirds of the planet’s oceans.
A Groundbreaking Step for Global Ocean Conservation
The High Seas Treaty is the result of years of multilateral negotiations, drawing together nearly 200 countries and territories under the auspices of the United Nations to address growing concerns over the depletion of marine life and the ecological health of the high seas. These areas, which fall outside the territorial waters of any country, have historically been difficult to regulate and protect. The treaty aims to create a comprehensive framework for preserving marine biodiversity, ensuring that the high seas can continue to provide resources and ecosystem services for generations to come.
President Biden emphasized the importance of this agreement as a pivotal moment in international ocean conservation. “The High Seas Treaty represents a significant achievement in our shared responsibility to protect our planet’s oceans. By working together, we can ensure the high seas remain a source of life and innovation, contributing to global sustainability and economic growth,” said Biden in his announcement.
Key Provisions of the High Seas Treaty
The High Seas Treaty establishes several critical provisions designed to balance conservation efforts with the promotion of scientific research and economic development in marine resources. Among the most significant elements of the treaty are:
- Protection of Marine Ecosystems: The treaty calls for the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas, ensuring that vulnerable ecosystems receive necessary safeguards against overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction.
- Marine Genetic Resources: One of the treaty’s most innovative aspects is its focus on the sustainable use of marine genetic resources (MGRs). These resources, found in the deep ocean and other remote areas, have vast potential for pharmaceutical, industrial, and biotechnological advancements. The treaty establishes mechanisms to regulate the collection and commercialization of these resources, ensuring that they are used responsibly and that benefits are shared equitably.
- Scientific Research and Innovation: The treaty aims to boost scientific research by providing clearer rules and incentives for international cooperation. By facilitating collaborative research on high seas biodiversity, the treaty will help advance our understanding of ocean ecosystems and develop sustainable practices for resource use.
- Sustainable Fishing: The treaty also strengthens international cooperation to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a major threat to the health of ocean ecosystems. The agreement outlines clearer guidelines for fisheries management and cooperation to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine food sources.
A Milestone in Ocean Diplomacy
The High Seas Treaty is the culmination of decades of diplomatic efforts to forge a global accord on managing the high seas. Negotiations for the treaty began in earnest in 2004, and in 2023, after nearly 15 years of discussions, delegates from around the world finalized the text of the agreement at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. It was hailed as a historic achievement for global environmental governance, marking the first legally binding framework for protecting biodiversity on the high seas.
The agreement’s multilateral approach reflects a growing recognition that ocean conservation cannot be achieved by any single nation alone. The high seas are a global commons, and their protection requires the cooperation of all countries, whether or not they have direct access to the oceans in question. The United States has played a leadership role in advancing the treaty, with the Biden administration prioritizing international environmental agreements to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
U.S. Leadership in Ocean Conservation
The transmission of the High Seas Treaty to the Senate underscores the U.S. commitment to global ocean conservation and its leadership in shaping international environmental policy. The Biden administration has consistently emphasized that tackling environmental challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss requires coordinated global action.
In particular, the United States has been at the forefront of advocating for stronger protections for the world’s oceans. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently highlighted that healthy oceans are integral to addressing the climate crisis and safeguarding marine resources for the benefit of future generations. The High Seas Treaty is viewed as a critical component of this broader effort to protect the planet’s oceans and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The Path Ahead
Now that the treaty has been transmitted to the Senate, it will undergo a review process before being considered for ratification. If approved, the United States would join more than 130 countries and the European Union in formally committing to the treaty’s provisions. Ratification would further strengthen the U.S.’s role as a global leader in ocean conservation, allowing the country to shape the rules and policies that will govern the future of the high seas.
In a statement accompanying the transmission, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The High Seas Treaty is a landmark agreement that brings nations together in support of a shared vision for a sustainable, resilient ocean. We urge the Senate to take swift action to ratify this agreement, which will not only benefit our environment but also support global economic security, innovation, and scientific progress.”
A Step Toward a Sustainable Future
The High Seas Treaty is seen as a milestone in environmental diplomacy, reflecting the growing recognition that global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of marine ecosystems require collective action. By ratifying this treaty, the U.S. would affirm its commitment to protecting the oceans while fostering global cooperation in the quest for sustainable development and marine conservation.
As countries around the world await the Senate’s decision, the treaty’s adoption would mark a historic leap forward in the global effort to preserve the oceans’ rich biodiversity for future generations. For more information on the High Seas Treaty and the United States’ commitment to marine biodiversity, visit the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs website.