Senegal Signs the BBNJ Treaty for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction

On the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, held in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025, the Senegalese Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, Professor Daouda NGOM, signed the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) treaty on behalf of Senegal on June 10, 2025.

The BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) is the first comprehensive and cross-sectoral global treaty on the oceans in several decades. It was adopted on June 19, 2023, with the primary objective of ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

This treaty is part of the effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), by strengthening international cooperation and coordination. It addresses a range of essential issues, outlining specific measures, their implementation and monitoring procedures, as well as the institutional arrangements necessary for its application.

With this signature, Senegal becomes the 135th country to sign the BBNJ treaty, thus joining a global movement that already includes 136 signatories and 50 ratifications.