Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the implications of Ireland’s ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty; whether he intends to designate additional marine protected areas under the Treaty; the funding and enforcement resources that will be allocated; the means by which Ireland will engage with EU partners to ensure compliance and cooperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51020/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (known as the ‘BBNJ Agreement’ or ‘High Seas Treaty’) was adopted by consensus by the UN in June 2023 and signed on behalf of Ireland on 20 September 2023. The Dáil approval for ratification of the BBNJ Agreement by Ireland was given on 17 September and the Taoiseach deposited Ireland’s instrument of ratification at the UN on 23 September 2025.
The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement in January 2026 will represent a significant breakthrough for global ocean governance following a process that took over 20 years.
The BBNJ Agreement will allow for the creation of a global mechanism for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction, namely the high seas and deep seabed. These areas comprise two thirds of global oceans.
In addition to its provisions on MPAs, the BBNJ Agreement will strengthen the global regime for the conduct of environmental impact assessments for activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Furthermore, the BBNJ Agreement makes provision for a benefit sharing mechanism in respect of marine genetic resources and contains provisions on capacity building and technology transfer to support developing countries.
In relation to future proposals for high seas MPAs under BBNJ, work to operationalize the Agreement at the UN level and establish the relevant bodies responsible for processing and evaluating MPA proposals is underway. Ireland is working with other Member States of the EU to bring this work to fruition through a series of Preparatory Commissions (PrepComs). The European Commission has proposed a draft Directive to implement part of the BBNJ Agreement, which is currently undergoing consideration at the European Council Working Party on the Environment. Ireland is actively engaged in the development of this Directive. Ireland is also part of the High Ambition Coalition of more than 40 countries committed to swift entry into force and ambitious implementation of the historic BBNJ Agreement.
As BBNJ rolls out, the Department will work closely with other relevant Departments to identify the legislative and resource requirements necessary to ensure its implementation.
Prior to BBNJ ratification, Ireland, along with the 15 other Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the 'OSPAR Convention'), already designated 12 Marine Protected Areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction in the North East Atlantic. The most recent of these was in 2021. When it enters into force, the BBNJ Agreement will complement the work of organizations with existing mandates in the high seas, such as OSPAR.
