KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaican government says it intends to take full advantage of the island’s involvement in the United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty, which came into effect last weekend.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, said that the treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), presents an opportunity to link international law with domestic action.
She said that in recent years, Jamaica has been expanding its commitments to ocean sustainability, including the protection of territorial waters and a growing focus on blue economy initiatives such as sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience, and marine ecosystem restoration.
The BBNJ Agreement adds a new layer, particularly in areas like scientific cooperation and equitable benefit-sharing.
Johnson Smith said that Jamaica played an active role in the negotiations of the BBNJ Agreement and ratified the treaty in June 2025 at the third UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) held in Europe. This followed the country’s initial signing of the Agreement in September 2024 on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly, where Johnson Smith signed on behalf of Jamaica.
“As this treaty enters into force, our focus remains on protecting ocean health and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. Jamaica continues to play an active role in multilateral ocean governance, including as host of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), reflecting our long-standing commitment to cooperation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
Johnson Smith also spoke of Jamaica’s leadership in ocean-related matters, pointing to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ role as a founding member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, reinforcing Jamaica’s support for solutions that connect marine protection with economic opportunity and social inclusion.
“With this continued leadership, alongside the support of the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, coupled with our re-election to category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation, Jamaica remains a credible partner and advocate for ensuring that marine resources are protected and equitably shared, now and for future generations to come,” she added.
UNCLOS was opened for signature in Montego Bay in 1982 and remains the comprehensive legal framework for ocean governance in multilateral fora.
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