Praia, 15 May 2025 – From 13 to 15 May 2025, representatives from a dozen West African countries gathered in Praia, Cabo Verde, for a regional workshop focused on the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) and the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas. The event was organized by the Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone in West Africa (PRCM), with support from its partners, including the WACA program and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB).
The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Jorge Santos, Cabo Verde’s Minister of the Sea, who commended the region’s commitment to high seas governance. He reminded participants that “the health and well-being of humans depend on the health and safety of our oceans,” and emphasized Cabo Verde’s intention to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, which it signed on the first day it was open for signature. He also reiterated his country’s ambition to protect 30% of its waters by 2030 and to position the blue economy as a pillar of sustainable development.
A Global Context and a Regional Priority
The workshop took place against the backdrop of the 2022 adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, a landmark international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The treaty aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up approximately 60% of the planet’s surface. The agreement will enter into force once 60 countries have ratified it, making active West African participation all the more crucial.
To date, 115 countries have signed the treaty, but only 22 have ratified it. The PRCM is stepping up its advocacy with African governments to seize this critical opportunity for ratification, notably through workshops such as this one in Cabo Verde, and another held in Mauritania last April.
An Ambitious Joint Declaration
Participants unanimously adopted the Praia Declaration, in which they call for:
- The signature and ratification of the BBNJ Agreement before the deadline of 20 September 2025;
- The development of national and regional roadmaps for its implementation;
- The establishment of inclusive processes for identifying and managing high seas marine protected areas;
- The active involvement of civil society, scientists, youth, and local communities at all stages of the BBNJ process;
- The strengthening of capacities of States and regional stakeholders, and the mobilization of existing expertise through organizations such as ECOWAS, UEMOA, PRCM, and the Abidjan Convention.
Participants also acknowledged the essential role of science, traditional knowledge, and nature-based solutions as key tools for the protection of marine ecosystems.
Momentum Toward Global Fora
This workshop took place at a strategically important moment on the global agenda, just weeks ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France. The global community will gather there to discuss solutions for ocean conservation and sustainable use. This will be a crucial opportunity for West Africa to make its voice heard on key global marine issues.
Discussions also touched on the 6th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC6), scheduled to take place in Dakar in 2027.
At the end of three days of intensive discussions, the participants – including representatives of governments, regional organizations, universities, civil society, and scientific institutions – expressed their satisfaction with the quality of the dialogue, the clarity of the recommendations, and the strong momentum for regional cooperation initiated in Praia.
“This workshop allowed us to better understand the challenges of the BBNJ process, but more importantly, to begin building concrete responses together,” said a representative from Senegal.
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