Turning point for marine protection: Morocco and Sierra Leone Ratify Agreement!

Turning point for marine protection: Morocco and Sierra Leone Ratify Agreement!

Significant progress in global marine protection is emerging because the Hochsee protection agreement (BBNJ) comes into force on January 17, 2026. This agreement, which is considered the historical success of the United Nations and the first legally binding international instrument to protect marine life in the Hohen See, was recently ratified by Morocco and Sierra Leone. A total of over 60 countries have signed the contract, which after two and a half years of intensive negotiations can now show enough ratifications. Econews reports that the seas are threatened by overfishing, plastic waste, climate crisis and raw material mining.

The agreement covers more than two thirds of the world's oceans and contains important provisions that determine binding rules for the preservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. At the same time, it also provides for the protection of areas outside the exclusive economic zones for the first time. UN General Secretary António Guterres called the ratifizations a "historical success" that underlines international cooperation in the field of environmental protection. On this basis, environmental organizations require that concrete measures to combat overfishing are now being taken.

Measures and challenges

The implementation of the agreement is crucial for the protection of fish, coral reefs and marine ecosystems. In particular, new regulations require strict environmental exams before intervening in these sensitive areas. Here, compromises between the commercial interests of fishing nations and the requirements of the environmental movement will be challenging. In March 2023, more than 160 countries agreed on the plans to implement the agreement in New York, but the area of ​​tension between economic interests and environmental protection remains a central topic. While Germany has already signed the contract, ratification is still pending and a new law is needed to enable this step. Tagesschau delivers Further insights into the political background.

In addition, the topic of the genetic resources of the sea represents a complex point in the negotiations. The group of 77 (G77) sees these resources as a common legacy of mankind and demands a fair distribution mechanism. However, the resistance to a comprehensive redistribution of rules could be nourished by states that stick to the status quo. Russia, which has rejected some parts of the agreement, is also one of the countries that have to deal with this topic. Rifs Potsdam describes how critically the practical implementation of the agreement among the current geopolitical and economic conditions could be.