International waters ecosystems will finally receive their own protection mechanism. On January 17, the so-called Agreement on the High Seas, or Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), came into force. Ukraine signed it in 2025 but has not yet ratified it.
According to the UN, the legally binding document covers areas beyond national waters and international waters of the seabed and ocean floor. The BBNJ was in the works for about 20 years and was adopted in 2023.
“We hope that after full implementation, the Agreement will make a vital contribution to addressing the so-called 'triple planetary crisis' related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” the United Nations adds.
A territory without rules
About two-thirds of the world's oceans are not part of any country's territory and are therefore outside the jurisdiction of their laws. As a result, crimes are committed in open waters, which could cause 10% of marine species to disappear from the planet.
Overfishing, chemical pollution, and other manifestations of uncontrolled human activity threaten biodiversity loss and future consequences for billions of people.
An international agreement as a solution
The global document proposes several practices that will ensure sustainable activity in the oceans and seas. Among them are:
- Restrictions on overfishing. The Agreement will allow for agreements on specific marine areas and grant them the status of marine protected areas;
- Mandatory environmental impact assessment. The document requires companies planning to begin seabed mining to undergo the EIA procedure;
- Fair use of genetic data. Companies collecting such information about marine species will be required to contribute funds to a pool that protects global ocean biodiversity.
- Transfer of marine technologies and development of scientific potential.
Some countries are still "undecided"
The Open Seas Agreement has already been ratified by 81 countries, including China, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and France.
However, a number of countries that are among the largest exporters of goods or actively use the world's oceans have not yet joined the agreement.
- The United States is among the top five largest ocean exporters ($61 billion). The country signed the BBNJ in 2023, but the United States Senate has not yet ratified it;
- India exports goods by sea worth $19 billion, placing it among the top developing countries. The Agreement was adopted here in 2024, but domestic ratification is still under consideration;
- The United Kingdom in 2025 introduced legislative changes to integrate the Agreement into domestic regulations, but Parliament has not yet ratified them;
- Russia is among the minority of countries that have not only failed to ratify, but have not even accepted the Agreement on the High Seas. It refers to an abstract “freedom of navigation in international waters” and wishes to avoid international cooperation to preserve the ocean.
Ukraine and Marine Conservation
Ukraine signed the BBNJ Agreement back in August 2025. At that time, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture reported that “from now on, Ukraine has become a participant in a new international mechanism for the protection of oceanic ecosystems and the sustainable use of marine resources in international waters.”
However, as of the time the BBNJ comes into force, it still has not been ratified. According to the rules, this must happen within 120 days of signing. For Ukraine, this deadline expired at the end of December 2025.
The Agreement is of strategic importance for Ukraine. As stated by Yuliia Ovchynnykova, Member of Parliament and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Policy, it is not only about a declaration of pro-European environmental standards and supporting the country's reputation as one that adheres to international law. The Open Sea Agreement directly aligns with Ukrainian interests, providing grounds to counter Russian aggression in the Black Sea.
“For a country that faces gross violations of international norms every day, supporting such treaties is of particular importance. Strong international law is our security interest. That is why it is crucial to take the next step – to ensure the ratification of the Agreement by Ukraine,” emphasized the parliamentarian.
EсoPolitic previously reported that the European Union allocated €40 billion to implement the Global Oceanic Programme.
Sustainable development of the oceans was also one of the major topics at last year's COP30 climate conference in Brazil. At that time, the One Ocean Partnership initiative was launched. The plans include attracting $20 billion to the regenerative “blue” economy by 2030, creating 20 million jobs.
