On September 19, 2025, the treaty, formally known as 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) secured 60 ratifications, followed by the ratification of Morocco.

With this move, the BBNJ agreement will come into force on 17 January 2026.

Background:

Working Group: In 2004, the UN General Assemble (GA) established the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study marine biological diversity beyond national jurisdiction. It held 9 sessions between 2006 and 2015.

In 2013, the Group made recommendations to develop a new international agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of Sea.

Preparatory Committee:

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