Chile unveils new high-level initiative – BBNJ First Movers – to promote the establishment of the first generation of High Seas marine protected areas
New York, 24 September 2024: A year since the historic High Seas Treaty1 formally opened to UN Member State2 signatures and the Race for Ratification3 began, leaders from around the world called on countries to prioritize ocean protections by accelerating efforts to ratify the High Seas Treaty so that it can enter into force in 2025.
The call was issued during ‘High Ambition for the High Seas’, a high-level event held in the margins of the UN General Assembly Leaders’ Week, organized by the governments of Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, France, the Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Palau, and the Philippines together with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, Mission Blue, and the High Seas Alliance.
‘High Ambition for the High Seas’, which was joined by special guests – the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, renowned oceanographer and author, Dr. Sylvia Earle, and Sebastian Yancovic Pakarati, from the Rapa Nui Sea Council – celebrated Heads of State and Ministers signing and ratifying the High Seas Treaty and featured a new initiative, the ‘BBNJ first First Movers’, to promote the establishment of the first generation of High Seas marine protected areas, led by Chile and supported by the United States of America and Canada. Several delegates also committed to a high-level declaration to ensure the Treaty secures the 60 ratifications needed to enter into force as soon as possible.
“We welcome the energy and commitment of governments leading the race to secure at least 60 ratifications of the High Seas Treaty by the UN Ocean Conference in June 2025, and applaud the leadership of Chile in its announcement of a new collaborative effort to lay the groundwork for the first generation of High Seas marine protected areas, ready for consideration by the Treaty’s first Conference of the Parties,” said Lisa Speer, Director of the International Ocean Program at Natural Resources Defense Council.
At the time of publication, 92 countries have signaled their intent to ratify by signing the Treaty. Eight nations have formally ratified – Palau, Chile, Belize, Seychelles, Monaco, Mauritius, the Federal States of Micronesia, and Cuba. During today’s event, Singapore announced it would submit its formal ratification at the UN later today, and several other ratifications are expected to be announced over the next few days4 during a special Treaty Event. In addition, Gambia, Liberia, and Kenya announced during the event that they will sign the Treaty this week, and Panama that it hopes to complete its national process of ratification within the next two weeks.
The High Seas covers almost half the planet and sustains the greatest wealth of life on Earth, yet these vast international waters are the least protected areas of our planet; currently, just 1% is highly protected.
“The historic High Seas Treaty is the ‘Paris Agreement for the ocean’. It’s a critical piece of legislation to safeguard our seas, stabilize our climate, and secure an equitable, healthy future for life everywhere. Until all governments act on their responsibilities as global leaders and prioritize its ratification, our international waters remain vulnerable and ocean life will continue to decline. It’s time to step up the pace and sprint to the finish line in the Race for Ratification!” said Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance.
One hundred and twenty days after 60 countries ratify, the High Seas Treaty will become the world’s first comprehensive international legal instrument to mandate the conservation and management of biodiversity in international waters across the globe. Its entry into force and implementation will be a critical contribution toward achieving international goals to reverse the climate and biodiversity crises, including the international target to protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030, agreed during the UN Biodiversity Summit in December 2022.
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The High Seas Alliance sometimes uses the term “High Seas Treaty” as a shorthand for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ Agreement. It acknowledges that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement encompasses all Areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column. This choice of wording is intended to ease understanding for broad audiences and does not convey a prioritization among the components or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.
- There are 193 Member States to the United Nations. See a full list on the High Seas Alliance Ratification Tracker.
- Signing does not establish consent for States to be bound to the Treaty, but it does express the willingness of the signatory State to continue the treaty-making process and for it to proceed to ratification. Signing also creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from acts that would defeat the object and the purpose of the Treaty. Ratification is when nations formally consent to the new international law, and this often entails ensuring that their national laws are consistent with it. The speed and process to ratify varies by country. In some countries, the act of ratification is simply a Leader’s decree, while in others Parliamentary approval is needed.
- Track countries’ progress on the High Seas Treaty and find out more about the #RaceForRatification at www.highseasalliance.org/treaty-ratification or read more about the High Seas Treaty in this factsheet and FAQs.
MEDIA CONTACT: Patricia Roy: patricia@communicationsinc.co.uk. To arrange interviews at UNGA in New York, please contact Victoria Riglen: victoria@communicationsinc.co.uk