Threads / Highly Protected Marine Areas Designation / Implementing Part 4 of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jur…
Consultation Outcome Published 2 Apr 2026 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs ↗ View on GOV.UK

Implementing Part 4 of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

We’re asking for views and evidence on implementing Part 4 of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).

Opened 21 Nov 2025
Closed 19 Dec 2025
Linked documents
▤ Verbatim text from source document

We want your views on proposed legislative changes to implement the EIA part of the BBNJ Agreement as it applies to licensable marine activities. 

These include proposals about:

  • extending marine licensing to additional activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) 

  • exemptions for activities in ABNJ 

  • activity specific regulatory approaches 

  • the application process and guidance for regulating activities in ABNJ 

We want to know more about marine activities in ABNJ including:

  • what activities are taking place in ABNJ currently, and what activities may take place in ABNJ in future 

  • who is carrying out, or likely to carry out, these activities and what is their connection to the UK 

  • evidence on likely impacts of these activities

We’re also asking for views on a proposal to change how marine licensing responsibilities are shared between existing regimes.