This year’s entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ), sets the stage for safeguarding marine life in international waters. African countries, especially in West and parts of East Africa, are actively working on establishing their first high seas marine protected areas (MPAs), but face significant challenges in enforcement and overlapping jurisdiction.
- West Africa leads on high seas marine protected area proposals.
- Regional overlap and economic concerns slow progress in East and Southwest Africa.
- Illegal fishing costs Africa over $10 billion annually, challenging enforcement.
What happened
The High Seas Treaty, or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ), became effective earlier this year, providing an international framework to protect marine ecosystems in waters beyond national jurisdictions. In response, countries in West Africa, supported by organizations like ECOWAS, are advancing well-coordinated proposals to designate marine protected areas in the high seas, particularly in the Canary and Guinea Currents Convergence Zone.
Efforts are also underway to propose MPAs off East and Southwest Africa, although these regions face more complex challenges. Unlike the Pacific Island states’ mostly uninterrupted ocean zones, Africa’s maritime landscape is a patchwork of overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and continental shelf claims. This creates difficulties in agreeing on boundaries and governance, especially where economic stakes such as fisheries and emerging deep-sea mining are involved.
Why it feels good
The progress made by West African nations demonstrates growing regional cooperation and institutional strength in ocean governance, setting a hopeful example for international marine conservation. The establishment of new MPAs promises improved protection for valuable marine habitats, biodiversity, and the sustainable use of ocean resources, which are vital to coastal communities.
These initiatives also represent a meaningful step toward addressing the long-standing challenge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which severely affects Africa’s marine economy. By embracing the High Seas Treaty, African countries signal their commitment to collective stewardship of ocean environments, bolstering global efforts to safeguard marine life beyond national jurisdictions.
What to enjoy or watch next
Look out for emerging developments on the formal establishment and enforcement mechanisms of these high seas protected areas, particularly in the Canary and Guinea Currents zone. How governments and regional entities will reconcile competing economic interests, such as fisheries management and deep-sea mining rights, will be critical to monitor in coming years.
Additionally, attention will focus on innovations and collaborations aimed at combating illegal fishing, which remains a major hurdle. Strengthening maritime surveillance capacity and integrating the new treaty regulations with existing regional agreements will be key measures in Africa’s ocean governance story.