On 19 June 2023, 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 (BBNJ) was adopted by consensus. The Agreement opened to signature on 20 September 2023. To date, there are 90 signatories and 7 parties to the Agreement. Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia have deposited their instruments of ratification and are now parties to the Agreement.
In November 2023, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, at their 52nd meeting, mandated Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner to coordinate with partners, including regional organizations from the council of regional organisations of the Pacific (CROP), to support Members in ratifying, domesticating and implementing the BBNJ Agreement.
This webpage is a window to this programme where you can find relevant information about the Agreement, progress towards entry into force, and activities conducted to fulfil the Leaders’ mandate. Whether you are a government official, Parliamentarian, representative of civil society, academic, researcher, student, or anyone wanting to know more, this webpage is for you. We invite you to explore it as well as visit relevant links from our partners.
For further enquiries, please contact us at opoc@forumsec.org