China Increases Involvement in Marine Research in Nice

China Increases Involvement in Marine Research in Nice

China Advances in Ocean Conservation: Domestic Ratification of High Seas Treaty Underway

China has taken significant strides in ocean conservation, as it officially began the domestic ratification process for the High Seas Treaty, also known as the BBNJ Agreement. The treaty aims to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and is expected to enter into force once 60 countries have ratified it.

At the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, China was represented by Vice President Han Zheng, academics, civil society representatives, and high-level officials. The conference provided an opportunity for China to showcase its commitment to sustainable ocean development and its role in the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

China's marine science received considerable attention in Nice, with the launch of Seamount Digital Intelligent Systems, a data platform for deep-sea discoveries, and the work underway on updating Chinese fisheries law, which addresses the use of harmful fishing gear.

The High Seas Treaty includes conservation measures such as environmental impact assessments, sharing of genetic resources, and creating marine protected areas. As of July 2025, 50 countries had ratified the treaty, with China among the key signatories that have not yet completed ratification.

The delay in ratification is attributed to the complexity of coordinating among various government branches. However, experts emphasize that prompt ratification is critical to enable active implementation of treaty provisions and participation in shaping governance frameworks. Only countries ratifying before the treaty enters into force will have decision-making seats at the treaty’s first Conference of the Parties.

China’s eventual ratification will have important implications for advancing sustainable marine governance and aligning China with an emerging global legal framework protecting international waters. With multiple major nations, including the UK and the US, also pushing towards ratification by the end of 2025, the treaty is poised to enter into force soon, marking a milestone in international ocean governance.

In addition to the High Seas Treaty, China has demonstrated its leadership in ocean conservation by setting a target to protect at least 30% of Earth's land and 30% of its ocean by 2030, through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Wang Songlin, the founder and president of Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, emphasized China's efforts in ocean governance, particularly during the negotiations and adoption of the framework.

China has also been an active contributor to the global agenda of sustainable ocean development, as acknowledged in the 2023 white paper "Development of China's distant-water fisheries". The country has promised to launch over 100 bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs to support developing countries, including small island states, achieve the UN development goals in the next three years.

Furthermore, China has joined the Port State Measures Agreement, a global treaty to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and has been open to suggestions on the issue of distant-water fisheries, as acknowledged in the 2023 white paper.

In the realm of deep-sea research, China has advanced in recent years, and many in the ocean field want a scaling up of deep-sea research. Guo Hongyu, deputy director of the Greenovation Hub, championed scientific exchanges at a UNOC side event in Nice.

Zhang has observed improvement in China's efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The China Global Ocean Fusion Dataset 1.0, a global ocean climate dataset, was unveiled at the conference, further demonstrating China's commitment to ocean research and conservation.

In conclusion, China's ongoing ratification process for the High Seas Treaty signifies its commitment to sustainable marine governance and global ocean conservation efforts. As the treaty nears entry into force, China's eventual ratification will contribute significantly to global momentum for high seas conservation and foster closer multilateral collaboration on marine environmental issues.

1. China's ratification of the High Seas Treaty, also known as the BBNJ Agreement, is expected to enhance the global legal framework protecting international waters, aligning with emerging sustainable marine governance.
2. Science plays a crucial role in China's ocean conservation efforts, as demonstrated by the launch of Seamount Digital Intelligent Systems, a data platform for deep-sea discoveries, and the ongoing updates to Chinese fisheries law addressing harmful fishing gear.
3. The High Seas Treaty includes provisions for environmental impact assessments, sharing of genetic resources, and creating marine protected areas, aiming to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
4. As with other major nations like the UK and US, China's prompt ratification of the High Seas Treaty is essential to enable active implementation of treaty provisions and participation in shaping governance frameworks, particularly in light of the treaty's upcoming Conference of the Parties.

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