Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Archives

17 Feb 2026

UK moves closer to High Seas Treaty ratification as BBNJ Act receives royal assent

Photo by Silas Baisch The UK has moved a significant step closer to ratifying the landmark High Seas Treaty after the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill received royal assent on 12 February, becoming an Act of Parliament. However, the government confirmed that additional secondary legislation is still required before full ratification can be achieved. The […]

20 Jan 2026

Historic High Seas Treaty enters into force but UK yet to ratify

Marine News

Photo by Jakob Owens The High Seas Treaty officially entered into force on 17 January 2026, marking a historic milestone for global ocean protection. However, the UK remains excluded from decision-making as Parliament has yet to ratify the landmark agreement despite being one of the first countries to sign it in 2023. The treaty, […]