On 16 January, the World Maritime University–Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) co-hosted a hybrid BBNJ Roundtable Seminar in Athens, Greece, marking the entry into force of 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 (BBNJ Agreement).
BBNJ roundtable seminar
in recognition of the bbnj agreement entering into force
The onsite event was hosted by the Athens Public International Law Center (Athens-PIL), operating within the Faculty of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), within the framework of WMU’s Ireland–WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic Programme. The roundtable convened more than experts—including academics, international lawyers, scientists, representatives of government and international organizations, as well as leaders from the ocean, finance, and environmental sectors— as panelists and discussants to reflect on the significance of the Agreement and examine pathways for its effective implementation.
Adopted on 19 June 2023 under the auspices of the United Nations, the BBNJ Agreement is the third implementing agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. With 83 ratifications to date, the Agreement entered into force on 17 January 2026, representing a major milestone in global ocean governance and the protection of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.
in honorable memory of
DR. KRISTINA MARIA GJERDE
The seminar programme was opened by Professor Photini Pazartzis, Director of Athens PIL, who invited the audience for a minute of silence in honourable memory of the late Dr. Kristina Maria Gjerde (1957-2025), widely known as the “Mother of the High Seas” and a leading advocate for deep-ocean protection. Her vision and dedication were widely acknowledged as instrumental in advancing the BBNJ process, with the Agreement’s entry into force standing as a lasting testament to her legacy.
Contributions
The Seminar attracted global interest with more than 235 registered participants from more than 85 countries and a gender distribution of 59% female and 41% male.
learn more
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SEMINAR AND PANELS, REFER TO THE WEBSITE AND THE CONCEPT NOTE BELOW.
ABOUT THE world maritime university
The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden is established within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU is an organization by and for the international maritime community and is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda.
About THE WMU-SASAKAWA GLOBAL OCEAN INSTITUTE
The World Maritime University’s WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policymakers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö
ABOUT ATHENS PIL
The Athens Public International Law Center (Athens PIL), founded in July 2015 and operating within the Faculty of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, is an academic research institution dedicated to the study and promotion of international law, including in particular the law of the sea. Its mission focuses on advancing international law through teaching, research, and scholarly activities, fostering an international academic community, and contributing to the development of international law through seminars, conferences, training programmes, and cooperation with academic institutions and international organizations worldwide.
ABOUT THE BBNJ CLINIC PROGRAMME
Funded by Ireland, the BBNJ Clinic is implemented by the WMU-GOI with the aim to assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement. The Clinic offers legal and policy support to ensure inclusive participation in ocean governance.