KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has strategically positioned itself to leverage the groundbreaking UN High Seas Treaty that became effective on January 17, ushering in a transformative era for international marine conservation. Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith emphasized that this development creates unprecedented opportunities to synchronize global legal frameworks with national environmental initiatives.
The BBNJ Agreement (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) represents a milestone in oceanic governance, particularly regarding scientific collaboration and fair distribution of marine resource benefits. Minister Johnson Smith highlighted Jamaica’s progressive environmental commitments, including territorial water protection and blue economy development through sustainable fisheries and coastal ecosystem rehabilitation.
Jamaica’s diplomatic engagement with the treaty has been substantial, having ratified the agreement during the third UN Oceans Conference in Europe last June, following its initial endorsement at the 79th UN General Assembly in September 2024. The nation maintains its influential role in multilateral ocean governance as headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and through Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ participation in the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
The minister further noted that Jamaica’s re-election to category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation reinforces its credibility as an advocate for equitable marine resource distribution. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, originally signed in Montego Bay, continues to serve as the foundational legal instrument for global ocean governance, with the new BBNJ Agreement representing its natural evolution.