The Irish Government moves to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, committing to High Seas marine protection, MPAs, EIAs and international benefit-sharing.
Ireland Ratifies Landmark High Seas Treaty
The Irish Government has approved ratification of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the first dedicated global treaty to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in the High Seas and deep seabed.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris TD, and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, announced the decision after Cabinet and Dáil approval.
“This historic Agreement reinforces the multilateral system and is a major victory for international ocean governance and the protection of the marine environment. Ireland is fully committed to working alongside our international partners to realise the Agreement’s full potential,” the Tánaiste said.
What The Agreement Does
The BBNJ Agreement — formally 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, was adopted by consensus at the UN in New York on 19 June 2023.
It provides a legal framework to establish a global network of High Seas marine protected areas (MPAs), strengthens environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures for activities that may affect the marine environment, and sets out mechanisms for capacity building and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources.
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“Our oceans and marine environment, now more than ever, face growing threats from the impacts of pollution, climate change, and human activities. This landmark Agreement provides the global community with a strong framework to protect and restore marine biodiversity and achieve globally agreed commitments,” Minister O’Brien said.
Ireland’s Role And Next Steps
Ireland was an active participant in the negotiations as part of the EU negotiating team and was among the first countries to sign the Agreement when it opened for signature on 20 September 2023. The Government said Ireland has also been engaged in the Preparatory Commission tasked with readying institutional arrangements for the Agreement’s entry into force.
Under the treaty, 60 ratifications are required for entry into force. At present there are 143 signatories and 57 ratifications. With Government and Dáil approval secured, Ireland plans to deposit its instrument of ratification with the UN Secretary-General in New York during UN High-Level Week next week — a move expected to push the ratification total past the 60 threshold. The Agreement will enter into force 120 days after the 60th ratification is deposited.
Strategic Importance And Targets
The BBNJ Agreement is explicitly linked to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and was the culmination of a process that began in 2004. Its proponents say it is essential to meet international biodiversity commitments, including the “30 by 30” goal to protect 30 percent of the planet’s oceans by 2030 — a target that currently stands far from being met, with only around 1 percent of the High Seas under protection.
The Government highlighted that the Agreement’s measures on MPAs, strengthened EIA processes and commitments on capacity building and benefit-sharing aim to balance conservation with sustainable use and to help developing states participate in and benefit from high seas stewardship.
Political Context
Ratification places Ireland among a growing group of states ready to move from negotiation to implementation. Officials said the country’s forthcoming role at the UN deposit and continued engagement in the Preparatory Commission will focus on ensuring the Agreement’s mechanisms for governance, transparency and capacity building are operational as soon as the treaty enters into force.
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