Page 13 - AWA Vol. 42-No.2 issue

FiSHERiES

FAO welcomes new treaty on safeguarding marine

biological diversity in international waters

The Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations has welcomed the
entry into force 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 Ju-
risdiction (BBNJ Agreement), and looks
forward to contributing to its imple-
mentation.
Following two decades of negotiations,
the BBNJ Agreement, which so far has
145 signatories and 81 Parties, came into
force on 17 January 2026. It is a binding
global treaty, aimed at ensuring the sus-
tainable use and conservation of biodi-
versity in ocean areas beyond national
jurisdiction. The Agreement covers four
main issues: marine genetic resources; from the epipelagic zone. State Measures to combat Illegal, Un-
area-based management tools; environ- Regional fisheries management or- reported and Unregulated fishing, and
mental impact assessments; and capac- ganizations put in place binding rules in using compliance-related tools like
ity building and technology transfer. to manage fishing in many ABNJs, in- the Guidelines on Transshipment and
The BBNJ Agreement requires a cross- cluding setting observation and mon- the Global Record of Fishing Vessels,
sectoral approach that integrates and itoring systems, science-based catch all of which are applicable and relevant
builds on existing arrangements to limits, allocation and bycatch rules, and in the ABNJ ocean areas. Through the
manage human activities in ocean areas when needed, closures to reduce pres- Common Oceans Program, funded by
beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), sures on marine resources, They have the Global Environment Facility, FAO
such as fishing, shipping, mining and decades of experience managing and and its partners have proven with prac-
research exploration. The BBNJ Agree- conserving marine biodiversity and tical solutions on how global and cross-
ment also stipulates that the benefits of will be critical to the success of the BBNJ sectoral collaboration can support the
marine genetic resources – often used Agreement, through capacity develop- effective and sustainable management
in pharmaceuticals, food supplements ment, science-based management sys- of the ABNJ areas, with demonstrable
and cosmetics – are fairly and equitably tems, data collection, and monitoring, success for tuna stocks and the survival
shared. Barange noted. of vulnerable species such as the alba-
“The BBNJ Agreement is an important “Just as healthy and biodiverse ecosys- tross and sharks.
next step in addressing critical gaps tems are the foundations of sustainable FAO has worked for decades with
in the governance of areas beyond na- fisheries, the institutions designed to the approximately 50 regional fish-
tional jurisdiction. FAO is equipped with govern the latter can contribute greatly eries bodies, establishing a network-
the know-how to assist parties and insti- to ensuring human use can coexist with ing model that will be critical for the
tutions to implement the Agreement, and support biodiversity,” he said. new treaty. FAO is already supporting
and has expertise, data and systems How FAO can help countries and regional fishery bodies
that will be critical to achieve its goals,” in their preparations to implement the
said FAO Assistant Director-General Data will be critical to the BBNJ, making BBNJ Agreement. Although the details
and Director of Fisheries and Aquacul- FAO’s fisheries data, including produc- of how the BBNJ Agreement will operate
ture, Manuel Barange. tion, trade, employment, fleet capacity are still being developed, FAO’s data
and consumption of aquatic resources, and networking systems, technical ex-
The ABNJ cover roughly two-thirds of
the world’s oceans and close to a major- as well as FAO’s regular assessment on pertise and capacity-building activities
ity of the total living space of the planet. the state of marine fishery resources, will be essential for its implem enta-
Fishing in these waters is regulated and the Fisheries and Resources Mon- tion.
through an existing network of rules itoring System (FIRMS), particularly “Marine biodiversity underpins sus-
and regional fisheries management valuable. tainable fisheries and global food se-
organizations, with some geograph- Capacity building is essential for all in- curity. The BBNJ Agreement presents a
ical gaps. Around 11 million tonnes of ternational treaties. In this area FAO has unique opportunity to enhance global
aquatic animals are caught by fisheries long supported countries, for example oceans governance and improve out-
per year in the ABNJ, mostly tunas, boni- in building the capacity to implement comes for everyone,” Barange said.
tos, billfishes and elasmobranchs taken and comply with the Agreement on Port Circle 13 on enquiry card

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