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. To date, 88 countries, including 12 Pacific Countries, have signed the Agreement. The Federated States of Micronesia is the first country to sign the Agreement. This is followed by Chile, the second country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement. As of now, there are 88 signatories and 3 Parties to the BBNJ Agreement. The Republic of Palau is the first country to have deposited its instrument of ratification, making it the first Party to the Agreement. This is followed by Chile and Belize to ratify the BBNJ 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