The UK government is to introduce a landmark bill to protect two-thirds of the world’s ocean, a key source of food and oxygen for people in the UK and globally. In 2023, the UK signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement—the High Seas Treaty—among the first countries to do so after playing a leading role in shaping it over more than a decade of negotiations. The bill, announced on 10 September 2025, turns that commitment into action. For the first time, the BBNJ Agreement will create a legal mechanism to set up protected zones in areas beyond national jurisdiction, helping to protect marine life and habitats previously vulnerable to overuse and exploitation.
Marine Minister Emma Hardy said:
“Our ocean and all the precious life in it face irreversible destruction from overfishing and runaway pollution. This historic treaty will safeguard some of the ocean’s most vulnerable habitats and marine life, and help protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 as part of our Plan for Change.”
Minister Malhotra, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said:
“Our oceans are under pressure from unsustainable fishing, global warming, and pollution—all threatening marine biodiversity. By introducing the BBNJ Bill in Parliament, we are delivering security for the UK and fulfilling our pledge to introduce legislation by year’s end.”
Sharks, whales, sea turtles and many other ocean species will benefit from stronger protections. The agreement also sets out the fair sharing of benefits from research into the genetic material of marine organisms, which may be used in medicines, cosmetics, agriculture and biotechnology. The legislation will help the UK meet targets set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, most importantly protecting 30% of the planet’s ocean by 2030. It also reinforces the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the foundation for international ocean governance. Following the bill’s passing, further secondary legislation will be required before the BBNJ Agreement can be ratified by the UK.
