PrepCom Deep Dives

9 April, 2025

New PrepCom 3 Deep Dives

The following policy briefs provide the latest up-to-date insights into key issues under consideration at the third BBNJ Preparatory Commission. Additional briefings will be shared in the coming weeks.

Past PrepCom Deep Dives

The following policy briefs were made for the first and second BBNJ PrepCom, and may be out of date:

Briefings: Deep Dives into the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement

15 November, 2023

On 19 June 2023, the international community adopted the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty). The Agreement opened for State signature on 20 September 2023 and will remain open for signature for two years. It will enter into force 120 days after 60 State ratifications. Until then, signatories are obliged to refrain from acts which would defeat the object and purpose of the Agreement.

This series of briefings explains the key provisions of the BBNJ Agreement:

High Seas Treaty – Factsheet

26 May, 2023

A momentous milestone for the ocean and global biodiversity

On 4 March 2023, after 5 years of negotiations, the world reached a significant milestone for the global ocean and efforts to stem global biodiversity decline when nations agreed a new High Seas Treaty to protect ocean life. The Treaty reached the 60 ratifications needed to enter into force in September 2025 and it entered into force in January 2026. The new Treaty will provide the legal framework to address many of the governance gaps that have plagued the ocean and provide a roadmap to conserve biodiversity areas that lie beyond national jurisdiction.

Download: English

The Hidden Natural Wonders of the World

18 November, 2021

Discover a few of the incredible biodiversity hotspots in the high seas that deserve priority protection and could become the first generation of High Seas MPAs under a new UN High Seas Treaty.

High Seas MPAs Briefing – English

The Thermal Dome – English | Spanish | French

The Lost City – English | Spanish | French

Sargasso Sea – English | Spanish | French

South Tasman Sea / Lord How Rise – English | Spanish | French

Walvis Ridge – English | Spanish | French

Salas y Gómez & Nazca Ridges – English | Spanish | French

Emperor Seamounts – English | Spanish | French

Saya de Malha – English | Spanish | French

High Seas MPAs

High Seas Alliance: Suggestions for Consideration by the Preparatory Committee, March 2016

1 March, 2016

On June 19 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 69/292 in which it decided to develop an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The resolution provides for a preparatory committee “to make substantive recommendations to the General Assembly on the elements of a draft text” of the instrument. The High Seas Alliance submits the following suggestions for consideration by the Preparatory Committee.

Resources available in English, French and Spanish.

Continue reading High Seas Alliance: Suggestions for Consideration by the Preparatory Committee, March 2016

High Seas Alliance Policy Briefs

4 April, 2014

From 1-4 April 2014, governments will gather at the United Nations in New York, for ground-breaking discussions on whether to launch negotiations for a new High Seas biodiversity agreement under UNCLOS. These discussions will continue at the UN from 16-19 June, with a focus on the ‘scope, parameters and feasibility’ of a new implementing agreement.

The High Seas Alliance has released a series of policy briefs to available in English, French and Spanish to coincide with these UN intersessional meetings.

Resources available in English, French and Spanish.

Continue reading High Seas Alliance Policy Briefs