High Seas Treaty to take effect on 17 January
The High Seas Treaty – formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) – is due to enter into force on 17 January after reaching 60 ratifications in September 2025. It enables marine protected areas beyond national waters, sets environmental impact assessment standards for high seas activities, establishes fair rules for marine genetic resources and provides funding and technology transfer to developing countries – measures intended to curb overfishing, pollution and biodiversity loss across nearly two thirds of the ocean and to support nature-based tourism.
Namibia, which borders the productive Benguela Current and hosts migratory species such as the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross, took part in negotiations and plans to accede to the treaty, signalling alignment with its rules. Enforcement remains a challenge – given the scale of the high seas, capacity gaps and resistance from major powers – but operators in marine and coastal tourism can expect clearer frameworks for impact assessments and protected areas that, over time, should support healthier wildlife, more resilient coastal economies and improved visitor experiences.
Source: The Namibian
