On Saturday 17 January, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will enter into force, marking a defining moment for global ocean protection and multilateral environmental governance.

Read IUCN Director…

International efforts are increasingly focused on addressing crimes that affect the environment (CAE), with remarkable progress evident from major political commitments in 2025 from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro. CAE is widely recognised as a serious threat to biodiversity, local communities, and…

The IUCN Great Blue Wall (GBW) Initiative actively participated in the 13th Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) Symposium in Mombasa, Kenya, the region’s largest gathering of coastal and marine stakeholders, which brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners,…

The second session of the Preparatory Commission for the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will take place in New…

From 3-13 June 2025, an IUCN delegation participated in the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) and precursor events. The event took place within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and was…

IUCN is attending the first substantive meeting of the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom1) for the entry into force of the treaty aimed at protecting biodiversity in the ocean beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty).

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council's 30th Session was held in Kingston, Jamaica, from March 17 to 28, bringing together State Members in the body mandated to organise and control activities in the international seabed area. The ongoing dialogue surrounding regulation of deep-sea…

The 25th Biennial Conference of the Society of Marine Mammalogy explored a 'culture' of marine conservation that combines innovative conservation strategies with traditional knowledge and human and animal culture. The event was a powerful reminder of the need to collaborate across disciplines…

As we mark the start of a five-day workshop intended on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement, in Koror, Palau. This meeting is a significant moment for the Pacific, co-hosted by the Chair for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and the Pacific Ocean…

IUCN and partners' continual work on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) continues; here focused on identifying and fleshing out activities to help prepare for the designation of Area-based Management Tools (ABMTs) under the BBNJ agreement, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).…