From left: WTO DG, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala exchanges pleasantries with the French President, Emmanuel Macron at an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation WTO, Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has commended the 68 countries across Africa, Europe, America and Asia that have ratified theBiodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction BBNJ Agreement.

Okonjo -Iweala in a close embrace with the Chilean President, Gabriel Boric at the event.

Also known as the High Seas Treaty, the BBNJ is a United Nations-led treaty governing marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, or the high seas. The Agreement, which is under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS on the Conservation, and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction BBNJ Agreement) was adopted on 19 June 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction convened under the auspices of the UN

Speaking at an event on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly UNGA, the WTO-DG, expressed gratitude to the French President, Emmanuel Macron and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric for their efforts, which made a total of 68 countries to ratify the Agreement, which was adopted in 2023.

She also expressed deep appreciation to Civil Society Organisations CSOs, private sector operators and other stakeholders, who contributed in one way or the other towards ensuring the success of the Agreement.

In a post gleaned from her verified X handle @NOIweala, the WTO-boss said: “Celebrating the 68 ratifications of the BBNJ Agreement/ High Seas Treaty with H.E President @EmmanuelMacron of France, H.E President @GabrielBoric of Chile, civil society organisations, private sector and other stakeholders that helped the agreement to come into force.

“The BBNJ Agreement and the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement are highly complementary and represent a victory for the sustainability of our oceans.

“Many thanks to President Macron for also celebrating on this occasion the entry into force of the @WTO’s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.”

The BBNJ Agreement aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in these international waters through tools like marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and the sharing of marine genetic resources.

It is part of the effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the UNCLOS, by strengthening international cooperation and coordination. It also addresses a range of essential issues, outlining specific measures, their implementation and monitoring procedures, as well as the institutional arrangements necessary for its application.

Available records show that as of September 2025, 11 African Union AU, member states have ratified the BBNJ Treaty, which followed ratifications by Morocco and Sierra Leone, which triggered the treaty’s entry into force by January 2026.