January 20, 2026 | 11:37 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Nations (UN) has established a new legal framework for international marine conservation in the high seas through the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty). This agreement entered into force on Saturday, January 17, 2026, after stalling due to two decades of intense negotiations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the entry into force of this treaty part of addressing governance gaps and securing productive oceans for the sustainability of all. This new legal instrument also provides solutions for oceans recently impacted by the climate crisis and exploitation.
According to him, the agreement is a historic achievement for people and the planet, for international cooperation, and for the United Nations. "This treaty establishes the first legal framework to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in the two-thirds of the oceans that lie beyond national borders," Guterres said, as quoted on the official UN website.
Guterres said this binding global rule will equitably share the benefits of marine genetic resources. It also establishes marine protected areas, conducts environmental impact assessments, and provides capacity and technology to those most in need. He stated that, amidst the threat of a worsening crisis and climate change, this agreement brings a new, productive governance framework to protect the high seas.
Previously, the high seas outside countries' exclusive economic zones were referred to as the "wild west," or no-man's-land with minimal regulation. Without binding rules, activities such as overfishing could be carried out, and commercial shipping could proceed with very lax environmental oversight.
In addition to conservation, this new regulation also requires a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Any new activity on the high seas, including plans for deep-sea mining and the installation of submarine cables, must first undergo an ecological risk assessment. Consequently, a legal loophole that has previously allowed corporations or countries to carry out extractive activities without accounting for their impacts on the global ecosystem is being eliminated.
"I commend the parties to this agreement and urge all countries to join. Let us now move swiftly towards universal and full implementation, and respect the values of this agreement for all parties," said Antonio.
From Indonesia, the Indonesian civil society group Ocean Justice Initiative also announced the entry into force of the international agreement. They stated that it is crucial for Indonesia to actively participate in the process of establishing implementing bodies for the BBNJ and also to develop a legal framework for its implementation in Indonesia. "For the sake of achieving global peace and justice in the management of areas beyond our jurisdiction," they wrote in a statement posted on their social media accounts on January 17.
Read: Nickel Mining Threatens Raja Ampat's Marine Biodiversity, Including Sperm Whales
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