[Monrovia, Liberia – June 7, 2025] Liberia has officially ratified the landmark Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, a pivotal international agreement that aims to protect biodiversity on the high seas—areas that make up nearly half of the planet’s surface but have remained largely unregulated and unprotected.

The BBNJ Agreement was ratified by the House of Representatives on June 3, 2025, and by the Senate on June 5, 2025, following a rigorous, government-led national effort. Liberia’s ratification process included the establishment of a multi-agency BBNJ National Ratification Committee, technical and legal workshops, a comprehensive national needs assessment, and active engagement with legislators. Liberia also collaborated with regional organizations such as ECOWAS to align its approach with broader West African conservation efforts.

Ratifying the BBNJ Treaty brings significant benefits to Liberia, including enhanced legal standing in international marine negotiations, improved access to marine technology and research collaboration, capacity-building opportunities, and future financial mechanisms to support sustainable ocean management. It also reinforces national efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine biodiversity, and promote food and economic security for Liberia’s coastal communities.

The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia will lead the high-level Liberian delegation to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, where he will officially deposit the  instrument of ratification. The delegation includes key national figures in Liberia’s environmental and maritime sectors, including Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hon. Jeanie Cooper, Special Envoy on Climate Change and Carbon Trade, Hon. J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr., Acting Director General, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Cllr Neto Z. Lighe, Commissioner General of the Liberia Maritime Authority among other senior officials and technical experts.

The Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) is a critical platform for advancing global ocean conservation. The event will mobilize world leaders, scientists, and stakeholders to take bold action in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, which calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.