MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE
2 Port Royal Street, Kington
MEDIA RELEASE
January18, 2026
UN High Seas Treaty Enters into Force – Jamaica Looks to Next Phase of Ocean Governance
The Government of Jamaica is positioning itself to take full advantage of the United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty which officially entered into force yesterday (January 17).
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, has described the Agreement’s entry into force as a practical opportunity to link international law with domestic action.
“Jamaica welcomes this next chapter in global ocean governance. In recent years, Jamaica has been expanding our commitments to ocean sustainability, including the protection of territorial waters and a growing focus on blue economy initiatives such as sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience and marine ecosystem restoration. The BBNJ Agreement adds a new layer, particularly in areas like scientific cooperation and equitable benefit-sharing”, Senator Johnson Smith shared.
The Foreign Minister says Jamaica played an active role in the negotiations of the BBNJ Agreement and went on to ratify the treaty in June 2025 at the third UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) held in Europe. This followed the country’s initial signing of the Agreement in September 2024 on the margins of the 79th UN General Assembly, where Minister Johnson Smith signed on Jamaica’s behalf.
“As this treaty enters into force, our focus remains on protecting ocean health and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. Jamaica continues to play an active role in multilateral ocean governance, including as host of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), reflecting our long-standing commitment to cooperation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Prime Minister Holness, as a founding member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, reinforces Jamaica’s support for solutions that connect marine protection with economic opportunity and social inclusion. With this continued leadership, alongside the support of the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change coupled with our re-election to Category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation, Jamaica remains a credible partner and advocate for ensuring that marine resources are protected and equitably shared, now and for future generations to come”, the Foreign Minister concluded.
The UNCLOS was opened for signature in Montego Bay in 1982 and remains the comprehensive legal framework concerning ocean governance in the multilateral fora.
