During the
, Peru on Monday signed the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the High Seas Treaty.
The agreement establishes a multilateral legal framework that guarantees the protection of biodiversity on the high seas, that is, beyond the 200 nautical miles of national jurisdiction of each coastal State.
"The Peruvian State maintains sovereignty and jurisdiction over its 200-mile maritime domain adjacent to its coasts, in accordance with the provisions of the 1993 Political Constitution of Peru," the
Foreign Affairs Ministry pointed out.
The BBNJ Agreement provides in Article 5 that it does not alter or impose obligations under UNCLOS or related agreements on States that are not parties to it, thereby maintaining their current legal status with respect to that Convention.
On the occasion of the signing of the aforementioned instrument, Peru submitted a formal communication to the UN Secretary-General, in which, in addition to referring to the aforementioned article, it reiterates its status as a non-party to UNCLOS.
Peru's signing of the BBNJ Agreement reaffirms the South American country's commitment to the global governance of oceans, as well as to humanity and future generations.
Marine areas beyond national jurisdictions must be spaces of shared responsibility among all countries involved.
It also strengthens Peru's international profile as a country committed to the conservation and sustainability of marine biodiversity. Similarly, it will enable access to technical and financial cooperation, enhance marine research, and develop scientific capacities to address challenges such as overfishing and pollution, which pose a threat to Peru.
The BBNJ Agreement was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in June 2023, and it remains open for signature until 20 September 2025.
The instrument will enter into force once it has been ratified by 60 States. To date, 115 States have signed it and 29 have ratified it.