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

Party

Malaysia added

• Signature: 03-09-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Paraguay added

• Signature: 10-09-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Cambodia modified

• Ratification: 06-09-2025 (R)

Grenada modified

• Ratification: 04-09-2025 (R)

Party

Moldova added

• Signature: 26-08-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Ukraine added

• Signature: 29-08-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Cabo Verde modified

• Ratification: 27-08-2025 (R)

Saint Kitts and Nevis modified

• Ratification: 29-08-2025 (R)

Party

Malta modified

• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  12-08-2025
  Pursuant to Articles 70 and 10(1) of the Agreement, the Government of the Republic of Malta declares the exception of the retroactive effects as set out in the second sentence of Article 10(1), therefore the provisions of this Agreement shall apply for the Republic of Malta only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of this Agreement for the Republic of Malta. Noting Article 5 of the BBNJ Agreement especially subpara (2) which refers to other relevant legal instruments and frameworks; and recalling the provisions of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD Protocol) under the UNEP Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (the UN Barcelona Convention) in relation to declaration, protection measures, planning and management of marine protected areas, Malta reaffirms that the SPA/BD Protocol remains the regional legal instrument governing the procedure for the establishment of MPAs in areas beyond national jurisdiction within the Mediterranean, where consensus among Contracting Parties is a necessary condition.

Party

Democratic Republic of the Congo modified

• Ratification: 05-08-2025 (R)

Luxembourg modified

• Ratification: 29-07-2025 (R)

Party

Pakistan modified

• Signature: 21-07-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• added reservation
  21-07-2025
  a) The provisions 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 shall be applied and interpreted in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan understands that the Agreement is without prejudice to the sovereign rights, jurisdiction and powers of coastal States under the Convention. b) For the purposes of the Agreement, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reaffirms the declaration it made upon [signing] the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 with regard to part XV of the Convention, on the settlement of disputes. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan states that: The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall, at an appropriate time, make declarations provided for in articles 287 and 298 relating to the settlement of disputes. c) The Islamic Republic of Pakistan understands that the principle of the common heritage of humankind, as specified in Article 7, Paragraph (b) of the Agreement, applies to both the geographical spaces and the resources covered under the scope of this Agreement. The scope and legal effects of the freedom of marine scientific research outlined in Article 7, Paragraph (c) of this Agreement should be interpreted in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Islamic Republic of Pakistan believes that Article 241 of UNCLOS is crucial for this interpretation and that marine scientific research cannot be used to justify claims of ownership or proprietary rights over any part of the marine environment or its resources.

Party

Kyrgyzstan added

• Signature: 17-07-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Party

Suriname added

• Signature: 19-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Party

Andorra added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Armenia added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Burundi added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Cambodia added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Equatorial Guinea added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Guinea added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Jordan added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Lebanon added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Lesotho added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Montenegro added

• Signature: 10-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Niue added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

North Macedonia added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Papua New Guinea added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Saint Kitts and Nevis added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Senegal added

• Signature: 10-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Serbia added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

South Africa added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Yemen added

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No

Belgium modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  Pursuant to articles 10 (1) and 70 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, adopted in New York on 19 June 2023, the Kingdom of Belgium makes the following exception upon depositing its instrument of ratification: In exercising the option to make an exception set out in the second sentence of article 10, paragraph 1 of the Agreement, the Kingdom of Belgium wishes to exclude from the scope of application of the provisions of Part II of the Agreement the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before entry into force.

Denmark modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  Pursuant to Articles 70 and 10(1) of the Agreement, the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark declares the exception of the retroactive effects as set out in the second sentence of Article 10(1), therefore the provisions of this Agreement shall apply for the Kingdom of Denmark only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of this Agreement for the Kingdom of Denmark.

  added reservation
  09-06-2025
  Territorial exclusion in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Greece modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  1. Pursuant to Articles 70 and 10(1) 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, the Hellenic Republic declares the exception of the retroactive effects as set out in the second sentence of Article 10(1). Therefore, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply for the Hellenic Republic only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated after the entry into force of this Agreement for the Hellenic Republic. 2. With reference to article 60, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Agreement, the Hellenic Republic reaffirms the declarations that it has made pursuant to Articles 287 and 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 21 July 1995, upon ratification of the Convention and on 16 January 2015, respectively 3. With regard to the division of the competence of regional economic integration organizations and their member States in respect of the matters governed by this Agreement, the Hellenic Republic refers to the declaration of competence by the European Union in accordance with article 67, paragraph 2, of the Agreement. 4. According to article 70 of the Agreement, no reservations or exceptions may be made to this Agreement, unless expressly permitted by other articles of this Agreement. A declaration or statement made pursuant to article 71 cannot purport to exclude or modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Agreement in their application to the Signatory or Party making such a declaration or statement. Therefore, the Hellenic Republic declares that it shall not take into account or be bound in any way by declarations or statements that have been made or will be made by any Signatory or Party pursuant to article 71, which exclude or modify the effect of the provisions of the Agreement.

Guinea-Bissau modified

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  The Republic of Guinea-Bissau declares, in accordance with and for the purposes of Article 10(1) and Article 70 of the Agreement, that the provisions of the Agreement relating to activities related to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction shall not apply to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated prior to the entry into force of the Agreement, and shall apply exclusively from the date of its entry into force.

Peru modified

• Signature: 09-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes
• Objections: No

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  On the occasion of Peru's signing of the aforementioned Agreement, and in accordance with the provisions of the penultimate paragraph of its Preamble and article 5, paragraph 3, it is pertinent to recall its status as a State not party to the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" of 10 December 1982. In this regard, any reference to said Convention contained in said Agreement will only be applicable to the Peruvian State to the extent that it constitutes customary international law or reflects general principles of law.

Vietnam modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  09-06-2025
  Pursuant to Article 70 and Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Agreement, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam declares the exception that the application of the provisions of the Agreement does not extend to the utilization of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before the entry into force of the Agreement for Viet Nam. Besides, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam recalls the understanding of Article 18 entitled ‘Area of application’ of the Agreement noted in the Report of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument 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 at its fifth session (A/CONF.232/2023/5), that the phrase ‘the Conference of the Parties shall not consider for decision’ means that the Conference of the Parties can look at a proposal but shall not decide on such proposals.

Albania modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Antigua and Barbuda modified

Bahamas modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Côte d'Ivoire modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Croatia modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Fiji modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Indonesia modified

• Ratification: 10-06-2025 (R)

Jamaica modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Liberia modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Malta modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Mauritania modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Solomon Islands modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Tuvalu modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Vanuatu modified

• Ratification: 09-06-2025 (R)

Party

Norway modified

• Ratification: 04-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  04-06-2025
  1. According to Article 70 of the Agreement, no reservations or exceptions other than those expressly permitted by its provisions may be made. A declaration pursuant to its Article 71 cannot have the effect of an exception or reservation for the State making it. Consequently, the Government of the Kingdom of Norway declares that it does not consider itself bound by declarations pursuant 71 of the Agreement that are or will be made by other States, a regional economic integration organization, or international organizations. Passivity with respect to such declarations shall be interpreted neither as acceptance nor rejection of such declarations. The Government reserves Norway’s right at any time to take a position on such declarations in the manner deemed appropriate. 2. Norway attaches great importance to the general obligation in Article 5 (2) to interpret and apply the Agreement in a manner that does not undermine the relevant legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies and in a manner that promotes coherence and coordination with such instruments, frameworks and bodies. The same applies to the more specific obligations in the Agreement to respect the competences of, and not undermine, these instruments, frameworks and bodies. Norway participates in a number of important legal instruments and frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies to which these obligations are applicable, such as but not limited to, the Antarctic Treaty System, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR-Convention), the Artic Council, the International Seabed Authority and the International Maritime Organization.

Romania modified

• Ratification: 04-06-2025 (R)
• Reservations / Declarations: Yes

• added reservation
  04-06-2025
  Pursuant to Articles 10, paragraph (1) and 70 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 area beyond national jurisdiction, done at New York on 19 June 2023, Romania declares the exception of retroactive effects as set out in the second sentence of article 10 paragraph (1), therefore the provisions of this Agreement shall apply for Romania only to activities with respect to marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected and generated after the entry into force of this Agreement for Romania.

Dominica modified

• Ratification: 03-06-2025 (R)

Party

Comoros added

• Signature: 02-06-2025
• Reservations / Declarations: No
• Objections: No