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

Party

United Kingdom modified

• Ratification: 10-07-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 09-08-2026

• added reservation
  10-07-2026
  (1) as declared at the time when the United Kingdom signed the Agreement, the United Kingdom recalls Article 71 thereof and welcomes the general obligation to interpret and apply the Agreement in a manner that promotes coherence and coordination with and that does not undermine other relevant instruments, frameworks and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies. In this context, the United Kingdom notes that the Antarctic Treaty system comprehensively addresses the legal, political and environmental considerations unique to that region and provides a comprehensive framework for the international management of the Antarctic; (2) as declared at the time when the United Kingdom signed the Agreement, the United Kingdom recalls Article 71 thereof and notes references in paragraph 8 of the Preamble to “the existing rights of Indigenous Peoples, including as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or of, as appropriate, local communities.” and in Article 7(k) to “the rights of Indigenous Peoples or of, as appropriate, local communities”. The United Kingdom's long-standing and well-established position, set out in its annual explanation of position at the UN General Assembly on the rights of indigenous people, is that human rights are held exclusively by individuals. With the exception of the right of self-determination (Common Article 1 of the two International Human Rights Covenants), the United Kingdom does not recognise collective human rights in international law. The United Kingdom considers this important in ensuring that individuals within groups are not left vulnerable or unprotected by allowing the rights of the groups to supersede the human rights of the individual. The United Kingdom therefore understands any internationally agreed reference to the rights of indigenous peoples or local communities, including those in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in the Agreement, to refer to those rights bestowed by governments at the national level. The United Kingdom further understands the term “local communities” to be used consistently with the way it is used in the Convention on Biological Diversity; and (3) pursuant to Article 10, paragraph 1, and Article 70 of the Agreement, the United Kingdom makes an exception to the application of the provisions of the Agreement to the utilisation of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before the entry into force of the Agreement for the United Kingdom.

Party

Tonga modified

• Ratification: 07-07-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 06-08-2026

Party

Comoros modified

• Ratification: 11-06-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 11-07-2026

Party

Moldova modified

• Ratification: 28-04-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 28-05-2026

Party

Austria modified

• Ratification: 30-03-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 29-04-2026
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  30-03-2026
  In accordance with Article 70 and Article 10, paragraph 1, of 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, the Republic of Austria declares the exception to exclude retroactive application as set out in the second sentence of Article 10, paragraph 1, of the Agreement. Therefore, the provisions of the Agreement shall apply for the Republic of Austria only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of the Agreement for the Republic of Austria.

Dominican Republic modified

• Ratification: 24-03-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 23-04-2026

Party

Armenia modified

• Ratification: 25-02-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 27-03-2026

Party

Trinidad and Tobago modified

• Ratification: 27-01-2026 (A)
• Entry into force: 26-02-2026
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• added reservation
  27-01-2026
  … the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (“the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”) upon accession to 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 (“Agreement”), shall apply and interpret the provisions of the Agreement in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which it is a State Party. Therefore, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago understands that the Agreement does not prejudice the sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and powers of coastal States under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Settlement of Disputes - Article 60, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Agreement With regard to Article 60, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Agreement, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago reaffirms the declarations it made pursuant to Article 287 on October 17, 2007, and pursuant to Article 298 on February 13, 2009, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning Part XV of the said Convention, regarding the settlement of disputes shall be applicable to the Agreement. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago reiterates that: I. Declaration under Article 287 In accordance with Article 287 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago declares that, in the absence of or failing any other peaceful means, it chooses the following means, in order of priority, for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: a. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea established in accordance with Annex VI (ITLOS); b. The International Court of Justice. (ICJ). II. Declaration under Article 298 In accordance with article 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago declares under paragraph 1 (a) of that article, that it does not accept any of the procedures outlined in Part XV, section 2 of the Convention with respect to the categories of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of articles 15, 74, and 83 relating to sea boundary delimitations, as well as those involving historic bays or titles.

Party

Qatar added

• Ratification: 14-01-2026 (A)
• Entry into force: 13-02-2026
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Türkiye modified

• Ratification: 16-01-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 15-02-2026

• added reservation
  16-01-2026
  The Government of the Republic of Türkiye would like to confirm hereby with this document that the signature and ratification of 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”) by the Republic of Türkiye, in conformity with Article 5, paragraph 3 of the BBNJ Agreement, shall not affect legal status of the Republic of Türkiye as a non-party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) and other related instruments, and shall not be construed in any way as constituting a change in the legal position of the Republic of Türkiye with regard to UNCLOS. Nothing in this BBNJ Agreement shall be interpreted as affecting the sovereign rights, jurisdiction and duties of the Republic of Türkiye as a coastal State. The Republic of Türkiye understands references in the BBNJ Agreement to the rights, jurisdiction and duties of coastal States under UNCLOS as referring to any equivalent rights, jurisdiction, and duties of non-parties to UNCLOS under customary international law. The Republic of Türkiye understands “[a]reas beyond national jurisdiction” under Article 1, paragraph 2 of the BBNJ Agreement to mean the high seas beyond 200 nautical miles of the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured; and, the Area. Pursuant to Article 60, paragraph 5 of the BBNJ Agreement, the Republic of Türkiye chooses the International Court of Justice as its means of choice for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the BBNJ Agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to Article 60, paragraph 7 of the BBNJ Agreement, the Republic of Türkiye does not accept any of the procedures provided for in Part XV, section 2 of UNCLOS with respect to each category of dispute set out in Article 298 of UNCLOS for the settlement of disputes under Part IX of the BBNJ Agreement. Recalling the statement of the Republic of Türkiye made during the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Republic of Türkiye declares that there does not exist any group of people in its territory which could be considered as “indigenous peoples” within the framework of the BBNJ Agreement. Pursuant to Article 70 and Article 10, paragraph 1, of the BBNJ Agreement, the Republic of Türkiye declares the exception of the retroactive effects as set out in the second sentence of Article 10, paragraph 1, therefore the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement shall apply for the Republic of Türkiye only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement for the Republic of Türkiye. According to Article 70 of the BBNJ Agreement, no reservations or exceptions may be made to the BBNJ Agreement, unless expressly permitted by other articles of the BBNJ Agreement. Furthermore, a declaration made pursuant to Article 71 of the BBNJ Agreement cannot purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement in their application to the State or regional economic integration organization that made the declaration. Therefore, the Republic of Türkiye declares that it shall not take into account or be bound in any way by declarations or statements that have been made or will be made by any Signatory or Party pursuant to Article 71, which exclude or modify the effect of the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement. Passivity with respect to such declarations shall be interpreted neither as acceptance nor rejection of such declarations on the part of the Republic of Türkiye. The Republic of Türkiye reserves the right to take a position at any time on such declarations in the manner deemed appropriate. This declaration is made without prejudice to any additional declarations and/or reservations that may be made in the future by the Republic of Türkiye.

Ghana modified

• Ratification: 14-01-2026 (R)
• Entry into force: 13-02-2026

Party

China modified

• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  15-12-2025
  I. Pursuant to Article 10 Paragraph 1 and Article 70 of the Agreement, the People’s Republic of China makes an exception to the application of the provisions of the Agreement. For the People’s Republic of China, the provisions of the Agreement apply only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of the Agreement for the People’s Republic of China, and do not apply to the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before the entry into force of the Agreement for the People’s Republic of China. II. Pursuant to Article 71 of the Agreement, the People’s Republic of China makes the following declarations: i. In accordance with Article 1 Paragraph 2, Article 3, Article 6, Article 18 and other related provisions of the Agreement, the Agreement shall apply only to the high seas and the Area; the Agreement and its implementation shall be without prejudice to the sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction of a State, including in respect of any disputes relating thereto; the establishment of area-based management tools under the Agreement, including marine protected areas, shall not include any areas within national jurisdiction or any areas involving any claims of a State to sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction. Based on the foregoing, the territorial sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China shall under no circumstances be affected by the Agreement or its implementation; the maritime rights of the People’s Republic of China in areas within its national jurisdiction shall under no circumstances be affected by the Agreement or its implementation. ii. In accordance with Article 2, Article 5 and other related provisions of the Agreement, the Agreement and its implementation shall properly address the relationship between conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity, and shall cooperate and coordinate with relevant international legal instruments, frameworks and bodies without undermining their competence or operation. iii. In accordance with Article 47 Paragraph 5 of the Agreement, the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement shall make every effort to adopt decisions and recommendations by consensus. III. Unless otherwise notified by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement shall not apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China or to the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Party

China modified

• Ratification: 15-12-2025 (R)
• Entry into force: 17-01-2026

Ecuador modified

• Ratification: 22-12-2025 (R)
• Entry into force: 21-01-2026