Australia has formally ratified the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty, joining more than 90 countries in an agreement designed to protect and sustainably manage ocean areas beyond national borders.
The government said Australia deposited its instrument of ratification during United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. Australia signed the treaty in 2023, and federal legislation passed in March 2026 cleared the way for ratification.
Also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ, Treaty, the agreement creates mechanisms for new high-seas marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments and the management of shared marine resources.
The government says Australia will work with regional neighbours on proposals for high-seas protected areas as countries pursue the global goal of conserving 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Ratification gives Australia a formal role in decisions under the treaty, while practical protections will depend on international agreement and implementation.
Source: Joint release from Australia's environment and foreign ministers.
Image disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated conceptual editorial illustration. It is not a photograph of a treaty event or a specific marine location.
