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Antigua and Barbuda is among several countries around the globe taking part in a crucial meeting at the United Nations that is seeking to establish the framework for the effective execution of the landmark High Seas Treaty.
The agreement, which was adopted in 2023, known officially as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty or BBNJ, seeks to protect ocean life beyond the national boundaries of respective countries.
With the dependence on island states, like Antigua and Barbuda, on the biodiversity of the ocean for food and livelihoods, the treaty is extremely crucial in maintaining the long term sustainability of our marine resources.
The BBNJ Agreement ultimately aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction through effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Representing Antigua and Barbuda at the two-week Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting are Legal Officer at the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Marine Shipping (ADOMS) Darius Joseph and Crown Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda Zachary Phillips.
They joined First Secretary at the Antigua and Barbuda Mission to the United Nations Asha Challenger for the opening session of the meeting yesterday. Challenger also represents Antigua and Barbuda as Vice Chair of the Preparatory Commission.
The PrepCom is focused on a number of key areas to include the establishment of institutional arrangements for the effective execution and management of the treaty and discussions on the capacity building and technology transfer needs for developing countries.
Other matters include financing options, especially for SIDS, and the design of systems for monitoring, reporting and compliance of the provisions of the Treaty.
“The PrepCom is a crucial step in establishing the institutional arrangements for the BBNJ agreements.
It represents a critical phase in turning political will into practical action to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction,” Challenger explained.
Presently, 21 countries have ratified the BBNJ treaty, but for it to come into force, it needs to be ratified by 60 countries.
Challenger expressed hope that the pace of ratifications will steadily increase so that the first Conference of Parties (COP) can be held in late 2026.
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This sounds great in theory, but let’s not forget environmental treaties often mean more bureaucracy and little follow-through. How prepared are we to implement this at the national level? Are we investing in local enforcement, marine science, or training young professionals? Or is this just more political optics? and don’t mind me asking, cause lately everything been going political
While I support Antigua and Barbuda’s involvement in these talks, we must be careful not to treat international engagement as a substitute for local action. Marine conservation starts at home. protecting our reefs, regulating our fisheries, and enforcing environmental laws. Global leadership is important, but so is accountability at home.
Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in the BBNJ PrepCom signals a progressive stance on environmental diplomacy. As a small island developing state (SIDS), we have everything to lose if ocean biodiversity continues to decline. It’s encouraging to see our delegation pushing for real frameworks, especially for capacity building and equitable financing. This is where climate justice begins.
We’ve heard these types of promises before. Treaties and global meetings are nice on paper, but where’s the enforcement? Until there are real consequences for countries and corporations that exploit international waters, I won’t hold my breath. Let’s see if this treaty has any real teeth.