A step toward protecting its ocean, Tonga is currently participating in global negotiations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, attending the Third Session of the Preparatory Commission (PrepCom III) for the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), held from 23 March to 2 April 2026.

The session represents a critical transition from negotiation to implementation, focusing on the development of institutional, financial, and operational frameworks to guide the Agreement ahead of its first Conference of the Parties in 2027.

For Tonga, as a Small Island Developing State, this process is of particular significance given the central role of the ocean in the Kingdom’s marine resources, economy, culture, and way of life.

Tonga’s delegation is led by the  Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations and the New York Mission, HE Mr. Viliami Va‘inga Tōnē, joined by the Head of the Legal Advice and International Law Division and Treaty Section of the Attorney General’s Office, Rose Kautoke, and Senior Advisor for Ocean Governance, Policy and Planning at the Department of Environment, Ministry of MEIDECC, Dr. Fononga Vainga Mangisi-Mafile‘o.

The delegation continues to play a key role in advancing Tonga’s positions in the AOSIS and the PSIDS Group Coordination and through engagement in informal and plenary sessions addressing three Clusters of Issues, namely (I) Governance, (II) Operationalization of the Clearing-House Mechanism and (III) Financial Rules, Resources and Mechanisms.

At present, Tonga is the lead negotiator for international cooperation with relevant frameworks and bodies.

Tonga continues to advocate for an implementation framework that is inclusive, practical, and responsive to the needs of Small Island Developing States, including equitable access to financial resources, strengthened capacity-building, and institutional arrangements aligned with regional systems.

The delegation remains committed to working closely with Pacific partners and the wider international community to ensure that the BBNJ Agreement delivers meaningful outcomes for ocean conservation, sustainable use, and future generations.

Tonga’s engagement at PrepCom III reflects the Kingdom’s continued advocacy in international ocean governance.