Seychelles amplifies voice for equity and action in High Seas Treaty implementation |11 June 2025

Seychelles amplifies voice for equity and action in High Seas Treaty implementation

June 9 marked a significant moment as leaders gathered at a high-level event entitled ‘Celebrating High Seas Action: Accelerating the Race for Ratification and Ambitious Implementation of the BBNJ Agreement’, marking a pivotal milestone in advancing ocean governance and biodiversity conservation.

The event, co-hosted by a coalition of 12 governments including  Seychelles, Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany, France, the Philippines, and supported by the High Seas Alliance, NRDC, IUCN, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, spotlighted growing international momentum to bring the High Seas Treaty into force.

With over 50 nations already ratified and 15 more publicly committed, the goal of reaching 60 ratificationsrequired for the Treaty’s legal activationappears within reach. Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chavez and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised multilateral cooperation, citing environmental tipping points like coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and marine heatwaves as stark warnings. They echoed the call to treat oceans as both victims and solutions to climate change, demanding action backed by science and equity.

The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Minister Flavien Joubert, delivered an address that reaffirmed the vital leadership of small island developing states (Sids) in global ocean governance. “For Seychelles, the high seas are not distant waters, they are lifelines,” he declared, highlighting the nation’s deep-rooted dependence on healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems. His intervention emphasised the urgency of equitable participation in the High Seas Treaty, particularly for vulnerable states on the frontlines of climate and ocean change.

The event also served as a platform for unveiling major international funding pledges, reinforcing the global call for equitable access to marine resources and the urgent need to accelerate ratification of the High Seas Treaty. These announcements reflected a growing consensus that effective implementation must be inclusive, adequately financed, and science-driven.

Key announcements included:

• The European Union committed €40 million through its Global Ocean Programme to support the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, emphasising capacity building and marine protection.
• Norway pledged support for developing nations to participate in preparatory meetings, strengthening inclusivity and representation in the Treaty’s early governance stages.
• Costa Rica launched innovative forest-ocean nexus funding, advancing integrated approaches to climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience.

The event closed with a powerful message: the BBNJ Treaty is not just a legal instrument – it is a cornerstone for safeguarding marine biodiversity, strengthening global climate resilience, and ensuring justice for future generations.

Contributed