Paramaribo, Suriname – 12 February 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation and the High Seas Alliance are organizing a National Workshop on UN Treaty for the Protection of the High Seas
From 18 to 20 February 2026, the National Workshop on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement will take place at Torarica Resort in Paramaribo. This three day workshop will bring together policymakers, scientists, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives to prepare Suriname for the ratification and implementation of the international BBNJ Agreement.
The BBNJ Agreement, adopted in June 2023 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), establishes a legally binding international framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction commonly referred to as the High Seas.
Economic and Development Opportunities
The regional report “High Seas, High Stakes: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the BBNJ Agreement in the Caribbean” (2025) indicates that Caribbean states comparable to Suriname can expect positive economic returns over a 20-year period. Improved fisheries management and strengthened monitoring of offshore activities can help prevent significant losses caused by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
In addition, the global biotechnology sector related to marine genetic resources represents an estimated value of US$ 400–650 million annually. Strengthening national capacity in research and innovation could enable Suriname to better benefit from this emerging sector.
Strategic Importance for Suriname
For Suriname, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of more than 130,000 km² and a coastline forming part of the Guianas Shield ecosystem, this Agreement is of major strategic importance.
Increasing offshore activities, maritime traffic in the Caribbean region and the Atlantic Ocean, and the expanding energy sector can introduce new environmental challenges and risks, if not done responsibly. The BBNJ Agreement provides Suriname with the opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, gain access to financing and technology transfer, and actively participate in decision-making on marine protected areas in the high seas.
With the signing of the Agreement in June 2025, Suriname has clearly demonstrated its willingness to participate in the new global governance structures that will be established once the Treaty formally enters into force.
Press release available in Dutch.
©J Bwijn