Sakibul Hasan

 

A new international treaty governing biodiversity in the high seas has entered into force, creating a global framework for protecting marine life beyond national jurisdiction. For Bangladesh, a coastal country whose economy and livelihoods are closely linked to the Bay of Bengal, the agreement raises an important question: how prepared is the country to benefit from the new system of ocean governance?

 

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, entered into force on January 17, 2026. Its first Conference of the Parties (COP1) is scheduled to take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from January 11 to 22, 2027. The treaty aims to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Bangladesh signed the agreement in September 2023 and ratified it on September 26, 2024, becoming a party to the treaty.

 

What the High Seas Treaty Covers

The BBNJ Agreement focuses on four major areas: marine genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits, area-based management tools including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

 

For Bangladesh, however, becoming a party to the treaty is only the first step. The country now faces the challenge of developing the scientific and institutional capacity needed to participate effectively in the new system of international ocean governance.

 

Bangladesh’s Marine Resources and the Capacity Gap

Bangladesh has significant maritime resources in the Bay of Bengal. According to the World Bank, the country’s maritime area covers more than 118,000 square kilometres. Yet marine fishing remains concentrated largely in relatively shallow waters.

 

The World Bank estimates that Bangladesh’s marine fishing activities are mainly concentrated up to depths of around 80 metres, covering roughly one-third of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It also identifies around 14,600 square kilometres of commercially important fishing grounds as being under pressure from overfishing.

What species are found where? How are fish stocks changing? How are ocean temperature and water chemistry affecting marine habitats? And how much of this information is being systematically collected and used in policymaking? These questions are becoming increasingly important as the BBNJ framework moves from negotiation to implementation.

 

Why Marine Genetic Resources Matter

One of the most significant elements of the BBNJ Agreement is its focus on marine genetic resources.

Marine organisms can contain genetic characteristics with potential applications in medicine, biotechnology and other scientific fields. The treaty establishes a framework intended to ensure that benefits arising from marine genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably.

 

For developing countries such as Bangladesh, this raises both opportunities and concerns. Access to marine research, technology and scientific expertise could open new avenues for research. But without adequate laboratories, trained researchers and access to marine data, developing countries may struggle to participate fully in this emerging field.

 

Science Will Be Central to Implementation

The implementation of the BBNJ Agreement will depend heavily on scientific knowledge. The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission has highlighted the importance of ocean observations, biodiversity databases, scientific cooperation and capacity development in implementing the treaty.

 

For Bangladesh, this means strengthening marine research and improving coordination among universities, research institutions and government agencies.

 

Long-term monitoring could help identify changes in species distribution, fish populations, ocean conditions and marine habitats. But collecting data is only one part of the challenge. The information also needs to be accessible and translated into evidence that policymakers can use.

 

The Treaty Will Not Solve All of Bangladesh’s Marine Problems

The BBNJ Agreement applies to areas beyond national jurisdiction. It therefore does not directly regulate all environmental problems within Bangladesh’s territorial waters or Exclusive Economic Zone.

 

Issues such as coastal pollution, overfishing, habitat degradation and the management of Bangladesh’s own marine resources will continue to depend on national policies, enforcement, scientific monitoring and regional cooperation. This distinction is important. The High Seas Treaty should not be presented as a solution to every environmental challenge facing the Bay of Bengal.

 

What Could Bangladesh Bring to the COP1 Discussion?

The first Conference of the Parties in January 2027 will be an important test of how the treaty will work in practice. For Bangladesh, several issues deserve attention: access to marine technology, capacity-building for developing countries, scientific cooperation, equitable benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources and participation in international marine research. There is also a broader question: how can the experiences and interests of coastal communities be reflected in international ocean governance?

 

From the Bay of Bengal to the High Seas

Bangladesh’s participation in the BBNJ process offers an opportunity to connect its national marine priorities with the wider international effort to conserve ocean biodiversity.

 

But meaningful participation will require more than diplomatic engagement. Bangladesh needs stronger marine research, better long-term biodiversity data, greater access to technology and stronger coordination among institutions.

 

The High Seas Treaty cannot by itself protect Bangladesh’s coastal waters or solve the pressures facing the Bay of Bengal. But it creates a new international framework through which countries can cooperate on marine biodiversity, scientific research and conservation.

 

For Bangladesh, the challenge now is to turn its status as a party to the treaty into meaningful participation—by strengthening science, improving access to marine information and ensuring that the interests of a developing coastal country are represented in the emerging system of global ocean governance.

 

The future of the high seas may seem distant from Bangladesh’s shores. But the decisions made there could shape how marine biodiversity is studied, protected and shared for generations to come.