The UK has formally ratified a landmark international treaty to protect marine life in areas beyond national borders, joining over 90 countries in adopting the agreement.
The United Nations Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, known as the High Seas Treaty, creates the first legal framework for establishing marine protected areas in international waters. These waters cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean and have lacked coordinated conservation efforts until now.
Experts from Aberdeen University shape key provisions
Academics at the University of Aberdeen played a central role in developing the treaty, offering expertise that helped define its scientific and legal foundations. Professor Marcel Jaspars, from the School of Natural and Computing Sciences, and Professor Abbe Brown, from the School, worked on the agreement for over a decade.
They addressed marine genetic resources, benefit-sharing arrangements, and intellectual property—areas where scientific and legal complexities often clashed. Their contributions helped balance practical conservation with enforceable legal standards.
Professor Jaspars stated the ocean is one of Earth’s most important life-support systems. Its protection, he noted, is essential for marine ecosystems and broader climate change efforts. The treaty provides a tool for safeguarding biodiversity in waters that have historically fallen outside national control.
Professor Brown emphasized the agreement’s mechanisms for fair benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources. These resources, found in ocean organisms, offer potential for medical, biotechnological, and agricultural uses. The treaty seeks to prevent exploitation while promoting equitable access for research and commercial development.
The professors also worked with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, supplying documentation and expert commentary that influenced the country’s legal text for ratification. Their efforts demonstrate how interdisciplinary expertise bridges gaps between science, policy, and law.
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A global framework for ocean conservation
The BBNJ Agreement was adopted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 2023. It supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes the goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. A healthy ocean supports food security, oxygen production, and climate regulation, making its conservation vital for both environmental and human needs.
The treaty’s impact will depend on widespread adoption. The high seas have often been treated as a free-for-all, with limited oversight of fishing, shipping, and resource extraction. The agreement introduces enforceable protections for vulnerable habitats and species, shifting toward more sustainable ocean management.
As more nations ratify it, the treaty could become central to global marine biodiversity efforts. Success will require implementation, funding, and nations prioritizing long-term conservation over short-term economic gains. The UK’s ratification demonstrates its commitment to shaping that future.
The ocean absorbs about a quarter of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and produces half the world’s oxygen. Protecting its biodiversity affects millions who rely on marine resources for food and livelihoods.
The treaty’s rules on marine genetic resources may also transform industries using ocean-derived compounds. From cancer treatments to sustainable materials, the high seas hold untapped potential. The challenge lies in ensuring discoveries benefit all nations, not just those with the means to explore them.
With the UK’s ratification complete, focus shifts to other major maritime nations. The treaty takes effect 120 days after 60 countries ratify it. While 91 nations have signed, only a few have finished the formal process. The speed of ratification will determine how quickly the agreement’s protections become active.
Earlier this year, legal experts at the university successfully appealed a regulatory decision, showing their ongoing influence in shaping policy.