Papua New Guinea Advances Ratification of Global Ocean Governance Agreement

Papua New Guinea has taken a significant step toward bolstering its role in global ocean governance by endorsing the ratification of a key international agreement. The government's National Executive Council has approved the submission 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) for tabling in Parliament.

This endorsement signifies a commitment to formally ratifying the treaty, which aims to protect and sustainably utilize marine life in international waters. The Department of Foreign Affairs has been directed to proceed with the necessary domestic processes to finalize ratification.

The BBNJ Agreement is a landmark treaty designed to address the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, often referred to as the "high seas." Its advancement by Papua New Guinea underscores the nation's growing engagement with international environmental and maritime policy.