The Mediterranean Sea covering less than 1% of the world oceans, holds more than 18% of all known marine species. Yet this ecological jewel faces mounting threats from climate change and overfishing to pollution and overlapping territorial disputes. Experts say the recently adopted UN treaty on ocean biodiversity known as the BBNJ Agreement could be the breakthrough the region urgently needs.
A Global Treaty With Local Stakes
In June 2023, after nearly two decades of negotiations, the global community adopted 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,” or the BBNJ Agreement.
Hailed as a milestone in ocean governance, the treaty creates new legal tools to protect biodiversity in the high seas, ensures equitable sharing of marine genetic resources, and helps developing countries build conservation capacity through funding and technology transfer.
While global in scope, its impact may be especially critical in the Mediterranean a sea bordered by 22 nations, plagued by fragmented governance, and home to ecosystems under immense stress.
Legal Gray Zones and Political Tensions
Unlike vast oceans, no part of the Mediterranean lies more than 200 nautical miles from land, which technically rules out traditional “high seas.” But experts highlight a key loophole: many countries have not declared exclusive economic zones (EEZs) or have unresolved disputes. This leaves large stretches of water legally unclaimed falling into a gray zone that the BBNJ Treaty could cover.
The region is also fraught with maritime disputes, from Greece and Türkiye to Israel and Lebanon. In this context, the treaty’s apolitical, science-based framework could allow progress on conservation without waiting for political breakthroughs.
Tools for Conservation and Equity
Currently, only 1.27% of Mediterranean waters are effectively protected, far below global biodiversity goals. The BBNJ Treaty offers tools such as:
•Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): New safeguards for ecologically sensitive regions like deep-sea canyons, seamounts, and migratory routes.
•Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Mandatory reviews for potentially harmful activities.
•Benefit-sharing of genetic resources: Ensuring countries, including those in North Africa and the Levant, can access funds, technology, and research benefits.
Importantly the treaty is designed to complement existing frameworks such as the Barcelona Convention and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, rather than duplicate them.
Linking to the Global 30×30 Goal
The treaty also provides Mediterranean nations with a way to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 target protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030. Regional agreements already endorse this goal, but implementation has lagged, especially beyond national waters.
Ratification: A Moment of Decision
The BBNJ Treaty will only come into force once 60 countries ratify it. While the European Union and some Mediterranean states have signed on, fewer than half of the region’s 22 coastal nations have completed ratification.
Analysts warn that delays could sideline Mediterranean countries from crucial decisions on marine protected areas, genetic resource management, and compliance mechanisms leaving choices in the hands of others.
A Chance for Cooperation
For a sea long divided by politics, the treaty represents something rare: a peaceful, science-based platform for collective action. Experts argue that if Mediterranean states embrace it, the region could become a model for how multilateralism can protect ecosystems, even in times of geopolitical tension.
The Mediterranean is a sea of history. With the BBNJ Treaty, it now has the opportunity to also be a sea of progress.