Antigua and Barbuda is playing an active role in shaping the framework of a landmark international ocean agreement, as United Nations preparatory talks continue this month.

According to Antigua.news, the country is represented at the third session of the Preparatory Commission (Prep Com III) for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty — commonly known as the High Seas Treaty — being held from March 23 to April 2. Global stakeholders are using the sessions to finalize the governance rules and operational systems required to bring the agreement into effect.

Once fully enacted, the treaty is expected to significantly strengthen protections for ocean areas beyond national boundaries. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Antigua and Barbuda, whose economies and livelihoods depend heavily on marine resources, the agreement carries particular importance.

Leading the country's delegation is Asha Challenger, First Secretary at Antigua and Barbuda's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, who also serves as a Vice President of the Preparatory Commission. In that capacity, she is helping steer deliberations on key issues including governance structures, financial mechanisms, and coordination with international organizations.

Challenger is also aligning Antigua and Barbuda's positions with regional and global partners, including CARICOM and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), to ensure the concerns of vulnerable island nations are embedded in the treaty's implementation framework.

She is joined by Darius Joseph, Legal Officer at the Department of Marine Services and Marine Shipping (ADOMS), and Zachary Phillips, Crown Counsel II from the Office of the Attorney General. Together, they form a technical team providing legal and policy expertise throughout the negotiations.

The delegation's participation reflects Antigua and Barbuda's broader commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable use, as well as its push for equitable decision-making that protects the interests of small island states.

Prep Com III represents the final preparatory stage before nations convene for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) on the BBNJ Treaty, expected to be held in January next year at UN Headquarters in New York. At that meeting, the agreement is set to become fully operational and formal implementation efforts will begin.