The world is on the verge of watching the birth of a completely new era in the governance and protection of our oceans. After almost two decades of arduous negotiations, the UN High Seas Treaty has reached the historic milestone of 60 ratifications to enter into force. The treaty, which is the world’s first comprehensive treaty to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas, which represent two-thirds of our blue planet, shall be enforced by January 17, 2026.
The historic ratification achievement reached through global co-operation
The ratification of the agreement by Morocco on September 19, 2025, was the decisive 60th state to accede to the Agreement of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the High Seas beyond National Jurisdiction, or BBNJ Agreement, in full. Now, 15 more countries ratified the treaty, so there are currently 75 states in the Convention. The adoption of the treaty was followed by Entry into Force only two years later, in June 2023.
“This historic achievement is the result of years of commitment and global diplomacy by Governments and stakeholders to protect the High Seas,” said Rebecca Hubbard, High Seas Alliance Director. The achievement is “a lifeline for the ocean and humanity” in light of the “triple crisis” of climate change, biodiversity, and pollution facing the planet, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Small island states take the lead in ratification processes
Twenty-five SIDS, nine least developed countries, and 16 African States together make up a substantial group of 75 contracting parties to the treaty. The commitment level is high in countries most susceptible to harm from the degradation of the oceans and climate change-related problems, marking the significance of the treaty to issues of global environmental justice.
Marine Protected Areas Framework: The High Seas Governance Paradigm
The BBNJ Agreement sets the world’s first legally binding standard for the establishment of marine protected areas in the high seas, which cover 64% of the world’s ocean that corresponding to 95% of the planet’s surface with life. Before the coming into effect of the new agreement, only 1% of the high seas were protected areas despite contributing half of the oxygen in the atmosphere that humans inhale and trapping CO2 in the atmosphere.
Governments are currently identifying where marine protected areas on the high seas might be proposed, in the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges, the Sargasso Sea, and parts of the South Tasman Sea. These initial proposed areas represent critical precedents in implementing area-based management and will help determine the tempo of future conservation action to implement the commitment to protect 30% of areas on land and at sea by 2030.
There are full mandatory environmental impact assessments where there may be more than casual or transient effects on marine environments. This now encompasses everything ranging from deep-sea mining to fishing, cable laying, to marine scientific research, signaling the beginning of something new—inputs on marine environments in international waters.
Implementation challenges: The need for global action
The initial COP must take place within a year after the Convention has entered into force, and is expected in late 2026. There are opportunities for global combined action in 2026, possibly in connection with COP 17 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and COP 31 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Critical Implementation Factors:
- Setting up institutional architecture in 12 months
- Development of funding mechanisms for conservation activities
- Development of frameworks for benefit sharing in marine genetic resources
- Harmonization with other international agreements on the environment
As Secretary-General Guterres has explained, “The health of the ocean is humanity’s health.” The coming year will tell if and to what extent the historic Agreement can distill an inspiring vision into productive action on ocean conservation. This requires the establishment of strong institutional roots to be achieved in the process of the Preparatory Commission, and ensuring wide participation in the implementation of the treaty.
