New legislation brings Britain a step closer to ratifying the High Seas Treaty and meeting its pledge to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030…reports Asian Lite News
The government has introduced a landmark bill aimed at protecting two-thirds of the world’s ocean, in what ministers have hailed as a decisive step in the global effort to safeguard marine life and ecosystems that lie beyond national borders.
The legislation, presented to Parliament on 10 September, translates Britain’s commitment to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement—commonly known as the High Seas Treaty—into domestic law. The treaty, adopted after more than a decade of painstaking negotiations, represents the first international mechanism for establishing protected marine zones in international waters.
Having played a leading role in shaping the agreement, the UK was among the first signatories when it opened in 2023. The new bill positions Britain at the forefront of global ocean governance, and ministers insist it will deliver food and environmental security at home while reinforcing the UK’s ambition to lead on international climate and nature action.
Marine Minister Emma Hardy said the stakes could not be higher. “Our ocean and all the precious life in it face irreversible destruction from overfishing and runaway pollution. This historic treaty will safeguard some of the ocean’s most vulnerable habitats and marine life, and help protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 as part of our Plan for Change.”
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Minister Malhotra, echoed her remarks. “Our oceans are under pressure, it’s undeniable. Unsustainable fishing, global warming, pollution—all threaten to deplete the marine biodiversity we all value and rely upon. By introducing the BBNJ Bill in Parliament, we are delivering security for the UK, in line with our Plan for Change—and fulfilling our pledge to introduce legislation by the end of the year.”
The High Seas Treaty is designed to protect areas of the ocean that have long been vulnerable to exploitation. While national governments can regulate the waters within their own jurisdictions, vast stretches of international seas—covering two-thirds of the planet’s surface—have remained largely unprotected. The new legal framework will make it possible to establish protected zones, restrict harmful activity, and preserve habitats essential to biodiversity.
Species such as sharks, whales, and sea turtles, which often migrate across vast distances, stand to gain from the enhanced protections. By tackling threats from overfishing, pollution, and the wider impacts of climate change, the measures aim to restore balance to marine ecosystems and build a healthier ocean that benefits both wildlife and people.
The agreement also covers an area of growing scientific and commercial interest: the collection and use of genetic material from marine organisms. Such material holds enormous potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and cosmetics. Under the treaty, benefits from these discoveries are to be shared fairly among the international community, ensuring that wealth derived from the seas does not remain the preserve of a handful of nations or corporations.
The UK bill forms part of wider global commitments, notably those set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Among the most ambitious of these is the pledge to protect 30% of the planet’s ocean by the end of the decade. Ministers argue that the legislation will also reinforce the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the long-standing foundation of international ocean governance.
“This bill is more than a legal necessity,” said Hardy. “It is the UK signalling to the world that we are serious about reversing biodiversity loss and driving forward the international action needed to protect our shared future.”
The government has tied the measure closely to its Plan for Change, an overarching programme designed to bolster environmental sustainability, food security and resilience to climate impacts. With oceans producing more than half of the oxygen on Earth and serving as a critical source of food for billions, officials say the treaty is essential to securing Britain’s long-term interests.
The road to ratification, however, is not immediate. Once the bill has passed through Parliament, additional secondary legislation will be required before the UK can formally ratify the BBNJ Agreement. Only then will Britain be legally bound to implement its provisions and contribute to the enforcement of marine protections in international waters.
The announcement follows a pledge made at the close of the third UN Ocean Conference in June, where the UK committed to introducing implementing legislation by the end of the year. With the bill now before MPs, ministers are confident Britain is on track to meet that deadline.
Supporters of the legislation argue that swift ratification is vital, both to maintain momentum and to ensure that the treaty can be operationalised before pressures on the ocean intensify further. “This is about creating a framework that will outlast governments and generations,” said Malhotra. “It’s about ensuring that the life in our oceans—not just for today, but for tomorrow—can thrive.”
Environmental groups have broadly welcomed the move, though some campaigners caution that protections on paper must translate into effective enforcement. The challenge of policing vast stretches of international waters, they warn, will demand robust international cooperation and significant resources.
For ministers, however, the introduction of the BBNJ Bill is proof of intent. The UK, they insist, will remain at the vanguard of global efforts to defend the oceans—a natural heritage that sustains life on Earth and underpins human prosperity.
