Mediterranean countries must take action on the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ)

The High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) has now entered into force, and Mediterranean countries are called upon to seize a critical opportunity to strengthen marine protection and regional cooperation at a time of mounting environmental pressures.

Although it covers less than 1% of the world’s oceans, the Mediterranean is home to approximately 18% of known marine species, making it one of the world’s most important biodiversity “hotspots.” At the same time, it is under intense pressure due to pollution, overfishing, climate change, and coastal development.

The BBNJ Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, provides, for the first time, a global framework for the protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, while also improving coordination across sectors, institutions, and states. As the agreement begins to be implemented, the initial decisions to be taken at the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) in January 2027 will determine how the treaty will function in practice and its level of ambition. For the Mediterranean, these decisions will be particularly important, as they will influence how effectively the treaty can strengthen cooperation in one of the world’s most environmentally stressed and politically complex marine regions.

A new report by the WWF highlights the strategic importance of the region and the role that countries can play in ensuring the effective implementation of the treaty.

“The Mediterranean doesn’t need new commitments; it needs stronger tools to implement the ones that have already been made. The Open Seas Treaty offers exactly that: a practical framework for improving cooperation in the sea we share, filling gaps in governance, and turning ambition into action for our shared maritime future,” said Giuseppe Di Carlo, Director and CEO of WWF’s Mediterranean Marine Initiative.