On January 17, 2026, the first legally binding international treaty to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas will come into effect. The treaty is known as the High Seas Treaty, or the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. This treaty will be the first formally legally protected framework on the high seas, representing a major step forward in global ocean governance. A milestone for global ocean protection.
The treaty recently received its most recent ratifications
The treaty recently received ratifications from Morocco, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on September 19, 2025. This triggered a 120-day countdown for when the agreement will come into effect. Along with the 60 ratifications, 142 countries and the European Union have signed the agreement, demonstrating global desire for solidified protection over the oceans.
Experts are warning against delaying action to implement treaty commitments and are advising countries to plan the integration of treaty commitments into their national ocean management plans. High Seas Alliance Executive Director Rebecca Hubbard referred to this event as a positive “multilateralism moment,” adding that the treaty is a significant steppingstone for what the world can achieve when countries come together in collaboration to protect a resource as vital as the ocean, which comprises over 70% of the world’s surface.
A deep dive into the high seas
The high seas, which lie outside of any country’s control, make up almost 2/3 of the entire ocean. This also makes the high seas the least explored area on the planet. The unconventional plankton and other life forms, as well as the minerals located in these waters, are in high demand for green energy, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. Because there has been no solid governance over the high seas, conservation and equity have been highly disregarded. The High Seas Treaty will fill these gaps by introducing:
-
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
-
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for activities in areas beyond jurisdiction.
-
Sharing benefits from marine genetic resources, ensuring that developing countries also gain access to knowledge and technology.
Tom Pickerell, with the World Resources Institute, has commented on the treaty being “one of the most significant international agreements since the Paris Climate Accord.” It will be able to unlock a range of much-needed tools to protect the systems that stabilize the climate, support a multitude of livelihoods, and feed billions of people.
The next steps are to take from ratification to implementation
Although it has been a long journey to reach this point, most experts agree that the hard work starts now. The first Conference of the Parties (COP) will need to be held within 1 year of the treaty coming into force, most likely by late 2026. This meeting will need to establish governance, mechanisms to ensure countries fully comply, and the funding, so the treaty will be able to succeed in the long term. Despite all the positivity about the treaty coming into force, taking real action will require significant political will and resources.
Resources are currently only available to countries with ecosystems that require the most work and funding. This means that all ecosystem treaty commitments need to be balanced and deadlines within the ecosystem management plans need to be met, which means resources will need to be available. The High Seas Treaty is an unprecedented act of global cohesion in today’s politically fragmented world. It is the first international legally binding agreement on high seas biodiversity. The world is now counting down to January 2026, as we move forward to a new era in the governance of our oceans—a new era that will determine the state of our planet for future generations to come.
