Ocean Treaty Agreed
After almost two decades of negotiations, the international community last night reached an important achievement to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions (BBNJ). This includes in particular the protection of the marine environment in areas that are beyond the jurisdiction of states, especially on the high seas. There, activities are only regulated by the flag states of ships that engage for example in fishing or other activities. The protection of the marine environment of this large part of our planet has long been lacking and the agreement marks an important milestone in the development of international law. The last published draft dates to 1 February 2023, and there have many days of negotiations since then. Now the draft will be translated and it is to be adopted formally at a later time. Once the treaty will have been adopted, it will have to be ratified by states in order to enter into force eventually. It is then that the practical work of implementing its contents though the states and through the creation and work of new institutions will actually begin. Today, in a sense, only marks the moment when the end of the beginning of BBNJ protections becomes visible - but this achievement is difficult to overestimate.