Seychelles boosts public engagement ahead of High Seas Treaty |09 January 2026
Seychelles boosts public engagement ahead of High Seas Treaty
The Department of Blue Economy has launched a week-long programme to educate the public about the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ), also known as the High Seas Treaty, which will officially enter into force on January 17, 2026.
Adopted under the United Nations in 2023, the treaty reached the required 60 ratifications in September 2025, paving the way for its implementation. For the first time, it establishes a legally binding framework to protect biodiversity in international waters – areas beyond national jurisdiction that cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean. Despite their vastness, these waters have remained largely unprotected, facing mounting pressures from overfishing, pollution, and climate change.
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