Written Assertion: Announcement of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction settlement (BBNJ) (1 August 2025)

Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) in any other case often called the ‘high seas’ cowl practically half of the world’s floor, but they lack complete governance frameworks to handle environmental safety, useful resource exploitation and marine actions. 

For Governments the world over, this presents each a problem and a chance. Ecologically, the excessive seas include an unlimited array of marine biodiversity together with migratory species and benthic eco-systems, which are sometimes not discovered anyplace else on the planet. 

Environmentally, we’re beginning to perceive the significance of those waters. This consists of carbon sequestration and storage and warmth absorption; all of which can assist to mitigate impacts of local weather change. 

Economically, these waters supply potential. The excessive seas include beneficial fish shares, uncommon earth minerals and marine genetic supplies utilized in drugs and biotechnology. Yet, and not using a authorized governance construction in place, these waters have confronted elevated quantities of exploitation as expertise improves, and not using a full understanding of the lasting impacts. 

The BBNJ Agreement has been practically 20 years within the making. It has been developed by means of the United Nations and marks step one in direction of regulation of the excessive seas. It goals to handle the gaps in worldwide legislation relating to the administration of actions in ABNJ, selling cooperation and environmental safety.

Following the announcement of the Agreement in 2023, I’m more than happy to see that the UK Government has ratified the Agreement by saying the BBNJ Bill earlier this month. 

The Bill will create a authorized framework masking three distinct areas. 

Firstly, the Bill will present provision for the designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) inside the excessive seas, enabling efficient conservation and sustainable use of marine organic variety. 

Secondly, the Bill will present a regulated mechanism for honest and equitable sharing of advantages derived from the extraction of marine genetic sources. This refers to marine DNA and different natural materials which is at present unregulated.  There is, nevertheless, large potential on this sector supporting pharmaceutical and medicinal analysis, with Welsh universities enjoying a key function in a managed and sustainable method. 

Finally, the Bill may also amend the extent of current regulatory regimes, particularly the Environmental Impact Assessment laws. This will assist decision-making involved with the administration of great impacts to the marine atmosphere. It is proposed that sure initiatives within the marine atmosphere might have to assess any potential important impacts to ABNJ, guaranteeing the safety of biodiversity and the sustainable administration of pure sources.

I’m dedicated to defending 30% of land and sea in Wales by 2030, a purpose set on the Conference of Parties 15 (COP 15) by means of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. I’m additionally dedicated to delivering on our objectives set out within the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This demonstrates our imaginative and prescient for a Wales which is globally accountable within the motion it takes on marine conservation. But this shouldn’t cease at our borders. I’m happy to see this Bill being developed to allow regulated mechanisms in ABNJ and the potential for elevated connectivity between nationwide and worldwide protected websites. 

Additionally, this presents a chance for Welsh universities to collaborate on marine-based analysis on a world scale, making a secure and extra predictable worldwide atmosphere. 

Whilst I recognise, this is step one of many, it is a crucial dedication in direction of worldwide conservation of our seas. Welsh Government will proceed to play an element in these efforts to make sure our seas each nationally and internationally are wholesome, clear and biologically various for present and future generations. 

This assertion is being issued throughout recess to maintain Members knowledgeable. Should Members want me to make an additional assertion or to reply questions on this when the Senedd returns I might be pleased to take action.