The entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) marks a historic moment. This white paper provides practical information on the implications of the agreement from companies operating in these fields.
Areas beyond national jurisdiction are one of the planet’s last great commons and are essential to sustaining life on Earth. Representing two-thirds of all oceans and 95% of occupied habitats, these zones harbor millions of unidentified species. Their role in absorbing heat and storing excess CO₂ is crucial to slowing the impacts of climate change.
These zones also see 90% of global trade pass through them, host critical data communication infrastructure, and contribute up to 12% of global fisheries. This document presents the perspectives of 14 leading companies from sectors such as fishing, international shipping, and submarine cables on the challenges and opportunities they foresee in relation to the agreement and its implementation.
