The BBNJ Team at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have shared an update regarding 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 Agreement). 

Since being among the first signatories to the BBNJ Agreement when it opened for signature on 20 September 2023, NZ has been working hard to progress work towards seeking a Cabinet decision to ratify the BBNJ Agreement.

 On 25 November, Cabinet approved ratification of the Agreement. The relevant documents will be available in January on www.mfat.govt.nz.

The next steps towards ratification include the BBNJ Agreement undergoing Parliamentary Treaty Examination, and the drafting and passage of new legislation to implement the Agreement into our domestic law, working towards ratification by New Zealand by mid-2026.

Image: Andy Schmid, UN World Oceans Day 2023 photo competition