The new international convention for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas outside national jurisdiction, according to the region’s Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) negotiators, opens a new chapter for equity in the world’s oceans.

Following what the BBNJ described as a “marathon of heated, occasionally sleepless deliberations,” the agreement was reached on March 4. In areas outside of national control, the international agreement allows for the preservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.

The BBNJ stated that approximately two decades ago, small island developing states brought the governance gap for ocean areas outside of national jurisdiction and the absence of any comprehensive system to appropriately control human activities in such areas to the attention of the international community.