The Cook Islands government, in collaboration with the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), held the national consultations on the Ratification and Implementation of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) last week.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), Peka Fisher, foreign service officer from the Treaties, Multilateral and Oceans Division, emphasised the importance of national engagement.

“As we move toward ratification and implementation, it is critical that we come together at the national level to chart the way forward. This consultation is a vital part of that process — to explore the content of the Agreement, its relevance to our national priorities including Marae Moana, and how we might prepare for implementation in a way that is inclusive, supports advancing our national priorities, is coordinated, and forward-looking,” she said.

The two-day event brought together stakeholders from across government, traditional leaders, and civil society to discuss the Cook Islands’ pathway to ratification of the Agreement.

Having signed the Agreement on 22 September 2023 during the High-Level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Cook Islands joined 80 States and the European Union as signatories of this landmark treaty.

According to MFAI, this underscores the Cook Islands’ global commitment to conserving marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Agreement, adopted in June 2023, establishes the first international legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in these areas, which cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean.

Ratifying the BBNJ Agreement will enable the Cook Islands to proactively contribute to shaping global rules on marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and technology transfer and capacity building. It will also strengthen national efforts under frameworks such as Marae Moana and support the Cook Islands’ efforts in ocean stewardship.

• MFAI