International allies are urging the Philippines to ratify the High Seas Treaty ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in France in June to boost the country’s strategic role in global ocean governance.

The treaty provides a framework for marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and equitable sharing of marine genetic resources. 

It also promotes scientific cooperation, capacity building, and technology transfer — benefits seen as especially crucial for the Philippines, a megadiverse nation.

“By ratifying the Treaty, the Philippines will reaffirm its leadership in marine conservation, strengthen regional cooperation, and gain access to new scientific, technological, and financial resources,” Rizza Sacra-Dejucos, Asia Regional Coordinator for the High Seas Alliance, said a recent forum.

Out of 115 signatories, 22 countries have ratified the treaty. Sixty ratifications are required to bring it into force.

The treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, was adopted in June 2023 after over two decades of negotiations.

It is the first legally binding accord dedicated to protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction — covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean surface.

“The Philippines’ ratification is of utmost importance and the country’s diplomatic agenda as a champion of international law is aligned and coherent with the BBNJ,” French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said.