Safeguarding our oceans: let the High Seas Treaty begin, with the EU support

On 17 January 2026, the High Seas Treaty or BBNJ ("Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction") entered into force, 120 days after reaching the milestone of 60 ratifications. This treaty now applies to all parties that have ratified the agreement, marking a significant advance in protecting global ocean biodiversity and strengthening international ocean governance. By providing a robust framework for conservation, equity and cooperation on the high seas, the treaty lays the foundation for lasting change.

Through EMFAF-funded actions managed by CINEA, the European Union is supporting the treaty's swift implementation, translating political ambition into concrete results.

EU's leadership and CINEA's on-ground support

The European Union and its Member States have played a pivotal role in advancing this agreement, leading the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) High Ambition Coalition.

In alignment with this, the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) ensures that EU policies are supported by solid technical and financial groundwork. Several initiatives managed by CINEA through the EU-funded European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) are actively facilitating the swift implementation of the High Seas Treaty.

Key EMFAF-funded actions include:

• Legal support for EU implementation of the High Seas Treaty
  A targeted contract supporting the development of future EU legislation on marine genetic resources, environmental impact assessment and legal coherence in international ocean governance.
  Budget: €250,000 | Duration: 2024-2026
• Set up of a High Ambition Coalition Secretariat
  Co-chaired by the EU, this coalition promotes the early and ambitious implementation of the High Seas Treaty. EMFAF supports the operational work of the coalition's secretariat, hosted by the IUCN.
  Budget: €300,000 | Duration: 2025-2028
• Study in support of the negotiations for the High Seas Treaty standardised batch identifier
  It supports the EU in developing the High Seas Treaty batch identifier, a new global code required under the Treaty for a greater traceability of marine genetic resources.
  Budget: €350,000 | Duration: 2025-2026
• Setting up of an informal expert group on the High Seas Treaty and organisation of workshops
  It operates an informal international expert group to support preparations for early implementation of the High Seas Treaty. Experts provide technical, legal, scientific and logistical expertise across all core thematic areas.
  Budget: €400 000 | Duration: 2026-2029
• Study on supporting and developing proposals for the High Seas area-based management tools and marine protected areas
  It aims to compare and analyse draft proposals for conservation measures in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, in view of facilitating the work of the EU in preparing positions on draft proposals.
  Budget: € 550 000 | Duration: 2026-2027

For further information on CINEA's role in supporting ocean governance, visit CINEA's website.

Background: an urgent need for High Seas protection

Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction encompass nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans and are crucial for biodiversity, providing essential ecological, economic, social, cultural, scientific and food-security benefits. Yet, these regions face mounting pressures from pollution, overexploitation, climate change and biodiversity loss, urging immediate safeguarding measures.

The "Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction" (BBNJ) or High Seas Treaty, emerging from two decades of negotiations, represents a groundbreaking effort to address these threats.

The treaty's provisions include establishing large-scale Marine Protected Areas on the high seas, a critical measure to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. It also emphasises stricter monitoring of potentially damaging activities, like unregulated fishing and deep-sea mining, by establishing environmental impact assessments.

A cornerstone of the treaty is also its focus on equity and inclusion. It provides substantial support to developing countries through capacity-building initiatives and marine technology transfer programs funded by diverse public and private sources. Additionally, a groundbreaking benefit-sharing mechanism ensures equitable access to marine genetic resources.