January 19, 2026
Micronesia today joins the international community in commemorating the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). This historic moment marks the beginning of a new era for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and reaffirms our collective commitment to multilateralism and the rule of international law.
President Wesley W. Simina became the first world leader to sign the BBNJ Agreement. Micronesia also became the seventh State to ratify, sending a strong political signal and helping to build momentum toward entry into force, reflecting Micronesia’s long-standing leadership and advocacy as a large Ocean State whose identity, culture, and economy are inextricably linked to the ocean. These actions underscore our country’s determination to help bring this treaty into force and to strengthen the global framework for protecting the Ocean for present and future generations.
The BBNJ Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fills a critical gap in the governance of areas beyond national jurisdiction. By providing for marine genetic resources, area-based management tools including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, the Agreement offers a comprehensive and legally-binding framework to safeguard ocean biodiversity while ensuring that benefits are shared fairly among all nations.
For Micronesia and other small-island developing States, the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is essential to addressing the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution that threaten our societies and our way of life.
The Agreement strengthens the multilateral toolkit available to the international community and reinforces the principle that our global commons must be managed collectively, cooperatively, and equitably.
Micronesia warmly welcomes the rapid pace of accessions and ratifications to date, which enabled the Agreement to enter into force within a short period following its adoption. At the same time, Micronesia encourages all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the BBNJ Agreement to do so as a matter of priority, so that the benefits of this new legal regime may be universal and its implementation truly global.