On 19 September 2025, the High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), crossed a historic threshold of 60 ratifications at the United Nations General Assembly. This milestone triggers its entry into force on 17 January 2026, ushering in the world’s first legally binding framework for conserving and sustainably using biodiversity in nearly half of the planet’s surface.
The Treaty provides the means to establish protected areas on the high seas, strengthen environmental impact assessment processes, and enable fair benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources. It also embeds capacity development and technology transfer as cornerstones of its implementation, critical steps to achieving the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including 30×30.
Blue Pangolin Consulting has been closely engaged in this journey, supporting both the design of enabling programmes and the early implementation of the Treaty, under the leadership of Landell Mills.
1. Support to the Ratification and Early Implementation of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement)
Under the ongoing support to the Ratification and Early Implementation of the High Seas Treaty framework contract, Blue Pangolin Consulting is a partner of a consortium, including IUCN, and led by Landell Mills. This project will support the work of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European Commission (Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)) to ensure a smooth and rapid ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and to prepare for the first phase of its implementation (Preparatory Committee and Conference of the Parties), as well as to support the European Commission with the entry into force and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in the EU. The project will implement the following objectives:
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- to provide logistical support to organise political and technical events, such as workshops and political dialogues, including in support of the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition (HAC), now hosted by IUCN, and chaired by Palau, Seychelles and the European Union;
- to provide technical and scientific support to exchanges among stakeholders, parties and workshops and side events;
- to provide legal and policy support in developing legislation and preparing for exchanges, meetings and negotiations; and
- to undertake studies, including possible impact assessment studies and pilot projects.
This multi year assignment supports the European Commission’s efforts to advance the ratification and early implementation of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) following its entry into force in January 2026. Delivered as a Specific Contract, under the Single Framework Contract, this assignment focuses on establishing and coordinating an informal international expert group to provide independent scientific, legal and policy advice to the BBNJ Preparatory Committee and the first Conference of the Parties.
As the Expert Group Leads, Blue Pangolin Consulting will bring together a group of 50–85 experts across all four pillars of the Agreement (Marine Genetic Resources, Area Based Management Tools, Environmental Impact Assessments, and Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology). Through a structured programme of online and in person workshops, supported by discussion papers, policy briefs and side events, the assignment will facilitate technical dialogue, consensus building and knowledge exchange to inform global decision making on the high seas.
Blue Pangolin plays a central role in expert engagement, workshop advisory and moderation, policy synthesis and dissemination support, ensuring strong links between science, policy and implementation.
3. Formulation of the Global Ocean Programme on Ocean Governance, Conservation and Sustainable Use
Through formulating the Global Ocean Programme on Ocean Governance, Conservation and Sustainable Use, led by Landell Mills for the European Commission, Blue Pangolin Consulting supported the development of the initiative to assist developing countries, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement. Our team led thematic assessments on Area-based Management Tools including marine protected areas, and capacity development, working with more than 100 stakeholders to define priorities for global and regional action.
Blue Pangolin Consulting’s work spans environmental and policy analysis, scientific and technical advice, communication strategies, stakeholder engagement, and logistical support for political and technical events.
As the High Seas Treaty enters into force, Blue Pangolin Consulting remains committed to supporting governments, institutions, and communities worldwide to move from agreement to action, ensuring that the new framework delivers meaningful protection and equitable benefits for the global ocean.
