World Ocean Week 2026 commenced on November 5th in Xiamen, Fujian Province, southeastern China. The event featured five outcomes, including a publication on underwater mountains and specialized environmental and conservation data products.
Thirty-three events are scheduled for this week, encompassing marine science and ecology seminars, as well as business meetings to foster connections between industry and commerce. These activities aim to promote global ocean governance and support the high-quality development of the blue economy.
On the same day, a bilingual report was released concerning the status, role, and prospects 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), as well as China's role in this process.
This report, prepared by the Chinese Institute of Marine Development Strategy under the Ministry of Natural Resources, details the importance of the agreement entering into force and China's contribution to its negotiation and implementation.
The BBNJ Agreement entered into force on January 17, 2026, becoming the third treaty implementing provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, thereby filling a legal gap in the conservation and management of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national control.
China participated in negotiations for this agreement for nearly 20 years, putting forward proposals on four key areas. Its contributions included supporting the benefit-sharing mechanism for marine genetic resources, developing area-based management tools, enhancing transparency in environmental impact assessments, and assisting developing countries in building capacity to implement the agreement.
China has designated red lines for marine ecological conservation covering approximately 150,000 square kilometers, established 353 marine protected areas, and implemented 194 marine ecological conservation projects. Furthermore, it is one of the few countries globally to record a net increase in mangrove area.
China has provided manned submersibles such as 'Jiaolong' and 'Fengduozhe', along with research vessels like 'Deepsea No. 1', for international scientific expeditions. It houses nearly 60,000 marine microbial resources and grants access to samples and data to international users.
As part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, China has led 10 major international scientific programs, including one focused on the digital discovery of typical deep-sea habitats.
China has improved its legal framework for assessing the environmental impact of activities in areas of the international seabed, with contractors involved in mineral exploration there actively fulfilling their assessment obligations.
China's experience, environmental data, expertise, and trained personnel can assist developing countries in assessing deep-sea activities and promoting a greener, low-carbon approach to ocean activities.
China has signed maritime cooperation agreements with over 50 countries and international organizations, established more than 40 marine research centers and joint laboratories, and invested about 200 million yuan (approximately 30 million US dollars) in over 100 small-scale marine cooperation projects. Moreover, it has conducted over 300 courses in marine science, technology, and management, benefiting more than 6,000 young researchers and officials from developing countries.
China became one of the first countries to sign and ratify the BBNJ Agreement. It has applied to host the agreement's secretariat in Xiamen and declared its readiness and capability to provide continuous support for the full and effective implementation of this agreement.
