The United Nations High Seas Treaty has officially crossed the threshold for ratification, with 60 countries now signed on. The agreement, finalised in 2023 after years of negotiations, will come into force in January 2026. It represents the first legally binding framework to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions, covering nearly half the planet’s surface.

What the treaty does

The treaty establishes a global mechanism to designate marine protected areas on the high seas, enabling conservation of ecosystems critical for biodiversity, fisheries, and climate stability. It also sets rules for assessing environmental impacts of industrial activities and provides for fairer sharing of marine genetic resources, an emerging field for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Why it matters

Today, only about one percent of the high seas is protected, despite growing pressures from overfishing, shipping, deep-sea mining, and climate change. By creating a legal framework, the treaty opens the door to conserving at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Global reaction

The milestone was hailed by conservationists as a “turning point for humanity.” IUCN called the treaty “a beacon of hope for ocean governance,” while UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the agreement proves “multilateralism is alive and can deliver for people and planet.” Environmental NGOs now urge rapid implementation to ensure protections reach the waters in time.

Next steps

The treaty will enter into force in January 2026, 120 days after the 60th ratification. Preparatory work is already underway to set up the institutional framework, including a Conference of the Parties, financing arrangements, and scientific committees to identify candidate marine protected areas.