5 May 2026 - Pacific Island countries are strengthening their understanding of how the international treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, which came into force earlier this year can support ocean protection, following a webinar convened on 27 April 2026, by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) with support from Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security (ANCORS).
The session, titled Understanding Environmental Impact Assessments under the BBNJ Agreement: What it Means for Pacific Island Countries, brought together over 80 regional officials, technical experts and partners to unpack what the Agreement’s environmental impact assessment provisions mean in practice for Pacific Island countries.
The BBNJ Agreement entered into force on 17 January 2026, marking a major milestone in global ocean governance. It provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
“The BBNJ agreement gives Pacific states stronger tools to protect the ocean that sustains us. So our task now is to ensure that we are ready to use them effectively and collectively,” said the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Mr Filimon Manoni, as he opened the webinar.
Environmental impact assessments, area-based management tools including marine protected areas, marine genetic resources, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology – fall within the scope of the BBNJ Agreement.
Mr Manoni further highlighted- “effective participation in high seas EIAs will require skills, data and institutional systems, which this webinar responds directly to address, that of the need for strong awareness and technical understanding across the region.”
For Pacific Island countries, the BBNJ is especially significant.
The Agreement has direct implications for countries whose national waters are adjacent to some of the world’s most ecologically important high seas areas. Part IV of the BBNJ Agreement establishes a legally binding framework requiring Parties to screen, scope and assess activities that may affect marine biodiversity, including cumulative and transboundary impacts, and to identify measures to avoid or reduce harm.
As the lead Pacific agency (Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific CROP) on environmental governance and environmental impact assessment, the webinar was an opportunity for SPREP and partners to build awareness among Pacific practitioners and decision-makers. It clarified how BBNJ obligations intersect with existing national and regional EIA systems and highlighted the rights and responsibilities of Pacific Island countries as adjacent coastal States.
The OPOC representative, Legal Officer Ms Elisiva Akauola, highlighted that Pacific coordination on BBNJ is already well advanced, with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and CROP agencies supporting national consultations and regional workshops to help countries assess legal readiness and implementation options.
ANCORS technical experts, Dr Sarah Lothian and Dr Kristine Dalaker noted that the BBNJ Agreement fills a long standing gap by establishing the first globally agreed environmental impact assessment process for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
For Pacific Island countries, the Agreement recognises the need for tailored EIA support, stronger access to information and technical assistance, data sharing through a clearing-house mechanism, and the integration of traditional knowledge in decision making.
The broader regional significance of the treaty has already been acknowledged by SPREP.
In an earlier statement marking the global ratification milestone that paved the way for entry into force, SPREP Director General Mr Sefanaia Nawadra described the Agreement as “a symbolic lighthouse” for Pacific islands and said the treaty could help extend conservation into the high seas pockets of the region.”
SPREP also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Members to support implementation of the BBNJ Treaty as part of a resilient Blue Pacific.
The webinar also pointed toward the practical work still ahead. Priorities noted include strengthening legal and policy frameworks, securing sustainable implementation funding, expanding national readiness and training, and ensuring that regional cooperation remains coherent and complementary.
With the first Conference of the Parties expected to take place in 2027, the webinar served as both a technical briefing and a call to action: to ensure Pacific Island countries are prepared to engage fully and shape implementation of the Agreement in ways that reflect our regional context, realities, priorities and ocean stewardship across the Blue Pacific.
The ‘Understanding Environmental Impact Assessments under the BBNJ Agreement: What it Means for Pacific Island Countries’ webinar was held on 27 April 2026 and featured Ms Elisiva Akau’ola from OPOC, Dr Sarah Lothian and Dr Kristine Dalaker from ANCORS, as well as Mr Puta Tofinga from SPREP. It was led by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner with support from Australian National Centre for Ocean Resource and Security (ANCORS).
For more information on the webinar or SPREP’s work on Environmental Impact Assessments, contact Mr Puta Tofinga, Environmental Assessment and Planning Officer, SPREP at putat@sprep.org