OSPAR participates in the second Preparatory Committee of the global agreement to protect marine biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

OSPAR BBNJ PrepCom II

19 August 2025

The OSPAR Commission is participating in the second Preparatory Committee of the global agreement to protect marine biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) that is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, on 18-29 August 2025.

This global agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement) was adopted in June 2023 and, with 53 ratifications to this date, is expected to come into force soon. The second Preparatory Committee meeting presents an opportunity for countries to discuss several issues ahead of the agreement coming into force, inter alia on arrangements for the functioning of the secretariat, subsidiary bodies and the Conference of the Parties as well as on a financial mechanism.

As a contribution towards the discussions that will take place at this meeting on cooperation between relevant legal instruments and frameworks and bodies, OSPAR will deliver a statement to present OSPAR’s mandate and experience in protecting the marine environment in ABNJ and to highlight the commitments made by OSPAR Ministers at the OSPAR Ministerial Meeting in June 2025. This includes a Decision by OSPAR Contracting Parties to enlarge the OSPAR Maritime Area by more than 2.5 million square kilometres of Macaronesian waters. Of this, nearly 1.7 million square kilometres are international waters. At this Meeting, OSPAR Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to enhance the effective protection of OSPAR MPAs in ABNJ, to continue efforts to work with relevant international organisations to develop collaborative management plans and to promote the objectives of the BBNJ Agreement.

OSPAR is organising a side event on Wednesday 20 August 2025 in the margins of the meeting together with the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Government of Belgium and BirdLife International. Speakers at this side event will also include representatives from the Governments of Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

The North-East Atlantic is one of the few regions in the world that has practical experience of implementing management and conservation measures in ABNJ. This side event thus aims to share challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt of implementing such measures in ABNJ in the North-East Atlantic as well as highlight existing arrangements for collaboration through the Collective Arrangement.

OSPAR has long believed that regional cooperation is the cornerstone of effective protection and sustainable use of the ocean, and that cross-sectoral and interregional cooperation and collaboration are fundamental to achieve these goals. As such, OSPAR stands ready to share its experiences and lessons learnt to help ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ.

OSPAR Statement at the BBNJ PrepCom II on Item 5: Arrangements to enhance cooperation with relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies (Cluster I: Issue 6)

Note for editors

^{1. The OSPAR Commission is the regional mechanism by which 15 Governments (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and the European Union cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic, including marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.}

^{2. 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) was adopted on 19 June 2023. The Agreement is open for signature by all States and regional economic integration organisations from 20 September 2023 to 20 September 2025. It will enter into force 120 days after the date of deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession. For more information: https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en}

^{3. The Collective Arrangement, adopted in 2014 by the OSPAR Commission and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), is a formal agreement between legally competent authorities managing human activities in ABNJ in the North-East Atlantic that aims to provide a regional platform to facilitate cooperation and coordination on area-based management.}

^{4. The OSPAR 2025 Ministerial Meeting took place in Vigo, Spain, on 23-27 June 2025. It resulted in the adoption of several decisions to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.}

^{5. The side event co-organised by the OSPAR Commission, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Government of Belgium and BirdLife International in the margins of the meeting will take place on Wednesday 20 August 2025. This side event will share challenges, opportunities and lessons learnt based on real-world experience in the North-East Atlantic. Split into two parts, Part I will focus on OSPAR and NEAFC mandates, measures and existing arrangements for collaboration through the Collective Arrangement. Part II will be a series of presentations from OSPAR Contracting Parties, IGOs and NGOs based on their knowledge of working on issues in ABNJ, and how that knowledge can help or be taken into account when implementing the BBNJ Agreement.}