ABNJ (Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction)

Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are the marine spaces outside any state’s exclusive economic zone, namely the high seas water column and the international seabed Area, together about 60 percent of the ocean. ABNJ are governed by UNCLOS, with high-seas fishing freedom qualified by the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and by RFMOs. The 2023 BBNJ Agreement (the high-seas treaty) adds tools for area-based management including marine protected areas, environmental impact assessment, and marine genetic resource sharing in ABNJ. It was adopted on 19 June 2023, reached 60 ratifications on 19 September 2025, and entered into force on 17 January 2026.