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<p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs have been closely involved in the negotiation of a new Implementing
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the
conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national
jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - as an important step forward in addressing the
challenges that the ocean faces. The UK is pressing for an ambitious Agreement to
be concluded in 2020. It will be a key mechanism in enabling the designation of at
least 30 per cent of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030. A joint FCO-DEFRA
team of officials will represent the UK in these talks based on positions agreed by
ministers. The question of Ministerial participation is being kept under review.</p>
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