World’s ocean to be better protected as UK ratifies landmark treaty

• UK ratifies the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement to help protect two-thirds of the world's ocean.
• A healthy ocean helps support food security, biodiversity and climate resilience in the UK and around the world.
• The UK joins a growing number of countries ratifying this landmark international Agreement.

International efforts to protect the ocean and the vital ecosystems it supports will be strengthened today, as the UK ratifies the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ Agreement), also known as the High Seas Treaty.

The Agreement will strengthen the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up nearly two-thirds of the world's ocean.

It establishes, for the first time, a legal mechanism to create marine protected areas on the high seas, helping to conserve vulnerable habitats and species for future generations.

The Foreign Secretary has now signed the document required for the UK to ratify the BBNJ Agreement. Today, this will be formally deposited with the United Nations in New York, completing the final step of the process.

Having played a leading role in shaping the Agreement over more than a decade of negotiations, the UK was among the first countries to sign it in 2023. Today's ratification marks the culmination of that commitment and enables the UK to play a full role in implementing the Agreement.

Minister Malhotra, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said:

The ocean is one of our planet's greatest shared resources, supporting livelihoods, food security and biodiversity.

By ratifying the BBNJ Agreement, the UK is turning international ambition into action and helping to protect vulnerable marine habitats and species.

A healthy ocean is essential for food security and climate resilience in the UK and around the world. Today's milestone demonstrates our commitment to protecting it for future generations

Marine Minister Emma Hardy said:

I've always believed the ocean is one of our planet's greatest treasures, supporting nature, communities and our climate.

When I announced at the UN Ocean Conference last year that the UK would bring forward legislation to enable ratification of the BBNJ Agreement, I was determined that this commitment would lead to meaningful change.

I'm proud that the UK has now ratified this landmark Agreement. For the first time, we have the global tools to create marine protected areas beyond national jurisdictions, helping deliver our commitment to protect 30% of the world's ocean by 2030.

The ocean is a key source of the world's food and oxygen, and healthy ocean ecosystems play a critical role in regulating the global climate. The Agreement will help ensure the sustainable management of marine resources while supporting international action to tackle biodiversity loss.

The Agreement will support stronger protections for marine biodiversity. It also establishes rules for the fair sharing of benefits derived from marine genetic resources. These resources have important potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and scientific research.

The BBNJ Agreement also supports delivery of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including the global commitment to protect 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030, and reinforces the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the foundation of international ocean governance.

Background

• The BBNJ Agreement (sometimes referred to as the High Seas Treaty) was adopted by UN member states in 2023 following more than a decade of negotiations.
• The Agreement entered into force in January 2026. The first Conference of Parties will take place in January 2027.
• The necessary legislation, including the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 which received Royal Assent on 12 February 2026, enabled the UK to ratify on 10 July at 14:15 BST.