Sustainable use of marine resources is one of the important guiding principles in the law of the sea and serves as a counterbalance to human exploitation of marine resources, thereby enabling their preservation for future generations. Given that the Arctic is one of the most unique and important ecosystems on Earth, its preservation for future generations is of even greater importance. While the adverse effects of climate change are already being felt globally, they are particularly devastating in the Arctic, where the most worrying phenomenon is the melting of sea ice and the consequent disappearance of the Arctic as we know it today.
As the Arctic's unique ecosystem is changing at an accelerating and significant pace, various proposals for its protection have begun to emerge within the international community. As the central part of the Arctic lies in the high seas, the international community adopted, on 19 June 2023, the Third Implementing Agreement to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also known as the BBNJ Agreement, which provides the possibility of establishing marine protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdictions, including the Arctic. Although the Agreement has not yet entered into force (it was open for signature until September 20, 2025, and will enter into force January 17, 2026), its adoption shows that States have recognised the need to protect the world's oceans, which do not fall under any State's jurisdiction. Under the BBNJ Agreement, a Marine Protected Area could be established in the Arctic, which would significantly contribute to the preservation of this unique region.
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