Canada announces signing of UN agreement on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction

March 4, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that Canada has signed 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 (the BBNJ Agreement). Minister Lebouthillier proudly signed the agreement on behalf of Canada in person in New York City.

As the world is facing growing environmental challenges, the preservation of ocean life is of utmost importance. The agreement seeks to protect the ocean, tackle environmental degradation and prevent biodiversity loss in the high seas in a global coordinated response. Canada is proud to have joined the agreement and encourages other nations to sign and ratify it as well.

Canada is committed to ocean conservation. Ratifying the agreement will complement Canada’s commitment to protecting 25% of its domestic land and water by 2025 and support the global commitment to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. It also complements Canada’s domestic commitment to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Canada is already working with partners to prepare for the effective implementation of the agreement and reach its objectives for the protection of the world’s oceans and ocean life.