The implementation of the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) has recently commenced. The Agreement concerns the governance and protection of biodiversity in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, commonly referred to as the high seas.

The Agreement entered into force in January 2026, following the completion of the ratification process by the required number of States, thereby establishing the BBNJ as a legally binding international framework.The Agreement entered into force in January 2026, following the completion of the ratification process by the required number of States, thereby establishing the BBNJ as a legally binding international framework.

The BBNJ applies to marine areas located beyond 200 nautical miles from national coastlines—areas which, until now, were not covered by a comprehensive international protection regime. These areas account for more than 60% of the world’s oceans.

The objective of the Agreement is to ensure that activities carried out in the high seas are conducted in a sustainable, responsible, and science-based manner.

The BBNJ Agreement is built around four key pillars:

• Conservation and protection of marine biodiversity, through a unified framework of rules for high seas ecosystems.
• Establishment of marine protected areas, aimed at safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and species.
• Environmental impact assessments, for activities that may have significant effects on the marine environment beyond national jurisdiction.
• Regulation of access to marine genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits, particularly in relation to research, innovation, and biotechnology.

At the same time, the BBNJ strengthens international cooperation, data sharing, and technology transfer, placing particular emphasis on the role of science in decision-making processes.

Although the Agreement does not apply within national maritime zones, it influences the broader institutional and policy framework being shaped at European and international level for fisheries, marine research, and the sustainable development of the blue economy.

For Greek aquaculture, the BBNJ does not introduce direct regulatory changes. However, it reinforces the strategic narrative of sustainable food production and the reduction of pressure on natural fish stocks. In parallel, it provides new reference points for the design of policies, projects, and funding instruments related to marine biodiversity and environmental protection.

APC S.A. closely monitors developments at both European and international level concerning marine policy, the environment, fisheries, and aquaculture. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement represents another critical element of the framework within which future marine policies will be designed.