Maldives Becomes 92nd Signatory of BBNJ Agreement

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The Maldives officially signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement today, becoming its 92nd signatory.

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives by the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, during a ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 3 September 2024.

The BBNJ Agreement, developed by the United Nations, is a legally binding instrument aimed at protecting and sustainably using marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Following years of negotiation, the Agreement was adopted on 19 June 2023, and has since been open for signatures by countries worldwide.

The Maldives' Cabinet of Ministers decided on 11 February 2024 to sign and ratify the Agreement, with the People’s Majlis giving its approval on 13 May 2024. The Agreement sets up procedures for establishing large-scale marine protected areas and includes mechanisms for marine technology transfer and combating climate change. By signing the Agreement, the Maldives commits to protecting not only its territorial waters but also marine biodiversity in international waters, standing to gain significant benefits from this international cooperation.

The Agreement remains open for signatures until 20 September 2025 and will come into effect 120 days after ratification by 60 countries.