Nice, France | 17 January 2026 | The Republic of Liberia was represented today by Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, at a high-level ceremonial event held under the patronage of the United Nations in Nice, marking the official entry into force of the International Treaty on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
The ceremony, hosted at the historic Quai Infernet—site of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)—celebrated one of the most significant milestones in global ocean governance. The BBNJ Treaty establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive and legally binding international framework to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, covering nearly 50 percent of the Earth’s surface.
According to a Liberian Embassy release, Ambassador Yorlay attended the event on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, reaffirming the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, environmental stewardship, and the sustainable use of ocean resources. “As a maritime nation with longstanding ties to global shipping and the Ocean economy, Liberia recognizes the central role of healthy oceans in climate resilience, food security, sustainable development, and international trade.”
The event also highlighted the leadership role played by France and the City of Nice in advancing global ocean action, as well as the success of UNOC3 in mobilizing broad international support for the rapid ratification of the BBNJ Treaty, now ratified by more than 80 countries.
To conclude, the dispatch iterated that Liberia remains committed to supporting international legal instruments that promote sustainable ocean governance and protect marine biodiversity, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water.
