High Seas Biodiversity Act 2026

A notifying entity for a utilisation activity must deposit the utilised material or information into a regulated repository or regulated database:

within the deposit period; and

in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the rules.

The utilised material or information is:

the BBNJ identifier (if known) for each collection activity during which the utilised marine genetic resources were collected; and

the marine genetic resources or digital sequence information utilised during the utilisation activity.

The notifying entity is taken to have deposited the utilised material or information into the repository or database when the utilised material or information can be accessed from the repository or database by another person.

The deposit period is:

the period of 3 years after the day the utilisation activity starts to be carried out; or

if the Minister agrees in writing to a longer period for the entity—that longer period.

Before agreeing to a longer period for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), the Minister must be satisfied that doing so is consistent with Australia’s obligations under the BBNJ Agreement.

Before making rules for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the Minister must be satisfied that the rules are consistent with Australia’s obligations under the BBNJ Agreement.