UK to introduce High Seas Treaty bill by end of 2025

The British Government has announced it will introduce a bill before the end of 2025 to enable the UK's ratification of the High Seas Treaty, also known as the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement.

Announcing the proposed legislation on Tuesday, UK Marine Minister Emma Hardy said emphasised the urgent need for action on marine protection.

“Our oceans are dying. Without urgent action, they will be irreversibly destroyed. That is why the UK will introduce legislation by the end of the year in order to enable ratification of the High Seas Treaty, a landmark in protecting marine life around the globe," she said.

Covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean, the High Seas Treaty establishes the first international legal framework to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters.

The treaty has received a surge of ratifications in recent days, with 18 further countries ratifying the agreement on Monday at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. As of 10 June, the total number of ratifications had reached 50 of the 60 needed for the treaty to come into force.

The move, announced by Minister Hardy during the UN Ocean Conference, followed Monday's announcement of a UK Government consultation on proposals to ban destructive bottom-towed fishing gear that could affect approximately 30,000km2, including 41 Marine Protected Areas.

This week, the UK has also reaffirmed its support for an ambitious international treaty on plastic pollution. Alongside more than 90 other nations, the UK pledged to work toward a comprehensive agreement when negotiations resume in Geneva later this year.