In a historic leap for global ocean conservation, the High Seas Treaty—officially known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)—has reached the critical threshold of 60 ratifications, setting the stage for its entry into force on January 17, 2026. This milestone, achieved after Morocco became the 60th country to ratify the treaty on September 19, 2025, was celebrated by leaders, scientists, and environmental advocates worldwide as a turning point in the stewardship of the planet’s largest and most vulnerable ecosystem.
International waters, or the high seas, cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans and almost half of Earth’s surface, yet until now, they have remained largely unregulated and unenforced. As Johan Bergenas, senior vice president of oceans at the World Wildlife Fund, told the Associated Press, “The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene.” He added, “A regulatory legal structure is necessary to protect biodiversity in international waters.” The BBNJ Agreement is the first legally binding international framework dedicated to safeguarding marine life in areas beyond national jurisdiction, finally bringing oversight to this vast expanse.
Palau was the first country to ratify the treaty on January 22, 2024, setting a precedent for global cooperation. In the week leading up to the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, four more countries—Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and Morocco—joined the effort, with Sierra Leone and Morocco’s ratifications triggering the treaty’s entry into force. According to IUCN, over sixty countries have now ratified the agreement, representing every region of the world.
“The ratification of this Treaty is a powerful testament to what the world can achieve when we unite for the common good of our ocean,” said Dr. Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General. She emphasized the importance of the treaty for meeting climate targets and fulfilling the Global Biodiversity Framework’s ambitious goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030—a target often referred to as “30x30.”
The treaty’s scope is sweeping. It enables the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters, which scientists say could help restore the ocean’s capacity to absorb planet-heating carbon dioxide and provide sanctuaries for threatened species. With only about 1% of the high seas currently under some form of protection, the challenge ahead is immense. Greenpeace International’s Mads Christensen put it bluntly: “The era of exploitation and destruction must end, and the Global Ocean Treaty is the tool to make that happen. But we must not get complacent. Scientists are clear that we need to protect at least 30% of our ocean by 2030, and time is running out.”
The BBNJ Agreement also requires that economic activities on the high seas—such as planned deep-sea mining for transition minerals—must present rigorous environmental impact assessments. This provision aims to curb destructive practices like deep-sea mining and bottom trawling, which, as the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition warns, threaten to undermine the treaty’s objectives. The agreement further fosters international cooperation, ensures fair access and benefit-sharing of Marine Genetic Resources, and supports capacity building and technology transfer to developing countries.
“We are proud to have been the first nation to ratify the BBNJ Treaty, and today we celebrate alongside sixty other countries who have joined us in this global commitment,” said Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., President of Palau. “With sixty ratifications, the treaty will now enter into force—ushering in a new era of stewardship for the High Seas. This is not just a victory for the ocean—it is a victory for our planet and all who depend on it. Healthy oceans, healthy planet.”
Leadership from Africa has played a crucial role in reaching this milestone. Michael Kanu, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York, remarked, “Today marks a historic moment as Africa’s leadership has helped steer the BBNJ Agreement to its entry into force. Sierra Leone and Morocco are proud to have been the final two countries to deposit their instruments of ratification and trigger the conditions for the entry of force of an agreement that will not only help us save our ocean, but also renew the promise of multilateralism. African states are champions of the common heritage of humankind principle that ensures the equitable sharing of benefits from our global ocean commons.”
However, the journey is far from over. While 143 states have signed the treaty, some of the world’s largest powers—including the United States, China, Russia, and Japan—have yet to ratify. The US and China have signed, signaling intent but not legal commitment, while Japan and Russia have participated in preparatory talks. Among the top industrial fishing nations, only Korea and Spain have ratified the agreement; China has signed but not ratified, and Japan and Taiwan have not signed at all. As Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance, noted, “The treaty’s true strength lies in universal participation. While we must celebrate this incredible progress, we urge all remaining nations to join this historic agreement and help us go from 60 to global ahead of the first COP.”
The first Conference of the Parties (COP), the new governing body for the high seas, is expected to convene in 2026, a year after the treaty’s entry into force. Preparatory work is already underway at the United Nations to establish the necessary institutions and processes. Only countries that have ratified the treaty by the time of the first COP will have a seat at the negotiating table—a strong incentive for lagging signatories to formalize their commitment.
Despite the celebration, significant challenges remain. Implementation, financing, and enforcement details are still being hammered out. “You need bigger boats, more fuel, more training and a different regulatory system,” Bergenas told the Associated Press. “The treaty is foundational—now begins the hard work.”
The high seas are critical to Earth’s climate regulation, absorbing heat and carbon dioxide and generating half of the oxygen available on the planet. They are also home to extraordinary biodiversity, much of which remains poorly understood and vulnerable to exploitation. As Kristina Gjerde, Senior High Seas Advisor at IUCN, put it, “The ocean gives us life and connects us all. Now more than ever, it needs true collaboration and champions to protect it. The BBNJ Agreement is a critical step towards ensuring a healthy, biodiverse and productive High Seas that will benefit both nature and humanity.”
With the High Seas Treaty set to become law in early 2026, the world faces a new chapter in ocean governance. The work ahead will determine whether this landmark agreement can fulfill its promise to safeguard our blue planet for generations to come.
