The UK has formally ratified the UN High Seas Treaty, more than three years after signing the landmark agreement and months after it entered into force internationally, following criticism that the government had been slow to complete the process.
The treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, creates the first international legal framework for establishing marine protected areas in international waters, which make up almost two-thirds of the world’s oceans.
The agreement provides a legal framework to protect and sustainably manage marine life in international waters, which cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean. It establishes four key pillars: creating marine protected areas to help achieve the global ’30×30′ goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030; requiring environmental impact assessments for activities such as deep-sea mining; setting rules for sharing the benefits of marine genetic resources; and promoting capacity-building for developing nations.
The treaty addresses a critical governance gap, aiming to safeguard delicate ecosystems from overfishing, pollution, warming, and acidification, while ensuring more equitable and sustainable use of ocean resources for the benefit of all.
The UK was among the first countries to sign the treaty in June 2023 after more than a decade of negotiations and played a leading role in shaping the agreement. However, while dozens of other nations completed ratification, the UK fell behind, prompting calls from parliamentarians and environmental organisations for ministers to accelerate the process.
At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June, 50 countries had already ratified the treaty, placing it close to the 60 ratifications required for it to come into force. The UK was notably absent from that list despite mounting pressure to act.
Following the passage of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act and supporting legislation, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has now signed the ratification documents, which will be formally deposited at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Ratification means the UK will be able to participate fully in future meetings that will determine how marine protected areas are designated and managed on the high seas. The treaty also supports the global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
Environment minister Emma Hardy said: ‘I’ve always believed the ocean is one of our planet’s greatest treasures, supporting nature, communities and our climate.
‘When I announced at the UN ocean conference last year that the UK would bring forward legislation to enable ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, I was determined that this commitment would lead to meaningful change.
‘I’m proud that the UK has now ratified this landmark agreement.’
Dr Judith Brown Projects Director, Blue Marine Foundation commented: ‘The UK’s ratification of the High Seas Treaty, joining more than 90 countries that have now formally adopted the agreement, is a major step forward for ocean protection. It mirrors the leadership the UK has already shown through the Blue Belt Programme, which has helped safeguard vast areas of ocean across its Overseas Territories.
‘With the treaty now entering implementation, attention must turn to delivering ambitious, highly protected marine protected areas on the high seas. The treaty provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect biodiversity across the two-thirds of the ocean beyond national borders, and we hope the UK will continue to lead by championing the strong protections needed to make that vision a reality.’
Photo: Tamara Gore