On 4 March 2023 global negotiations concluded on the landmark Treaty of the High Seas to protect the ocean, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss. This rapid response event convenes a panel of experts to discuss legal issues relating to the new treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty (BBNJ). The treaty lays the groundwork for marine protections over previously unregulated waters. Its primary aim is to protect biodiversity by establishing large-scale marine protected areas and regulating marine research for scientific and commercial development.
