After years of negotiations and mounting environmental concerns, the United Nations High Seas Treaty—formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement—has crossed a historic threshold. With Morocco becoming the 60th nation to ratify the agreement on September 19, 2025, the treaty is now set to become international law on January 17, 2026, according to reporting from PMN and corroborated by multiple international sources. This marks the first time a comprehensive legal framework will govern the protection of marine biodiversity in international waters, a vast expanse that covers nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans and almost half of Earth’s surface.
The importance of this agreement cannot be overstated. International waters, or the so-called high seas, exist beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation. Historically, this has left them vulnerable to a host of threats—overfishing, climate change, deep-sea mining, and unregulated industrial activity. As Lisa Speer, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s international oceans program, succinctly put it, “Marine life doesn’t respect political boundaries. So fish migrate across the ocean. ... Same with turtles, with seabirds, and a whole host of other marine life. And so what happens in the high sea can really affect the health and resilience of the ocean within national jurisdiction, within our coastal waters.”
The treaty’s ratification came during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, a gathering attended by global leaders and government representatives, including New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters. The agreement introduces a suite of new measures designed to protect wildlife in the deep ocean, with legal obligations for countries to maintain high environmental standards when managing ocean resources. It also extends its reach to international organizations such as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and regional fisheries management groups, ensuring that their activities align with the new global standards.
One of the treaty’s most significant features is the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters. This provision requires that certain parts of the ocean be set aside for conservation, with mandatory environmental impact assessments for any activities proposed within these zones. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this is a crucial step toward achieving the global “30x30” target—a pledge to protect at least 30 percent of the planet’s land and sea by 2030. Dr. Grethel Aguilar, head of the IUCN, stated, “Protecting the High Seas is essential for meeting our climate targets and fulfilling our goals under the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect at least 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030.”
Beyond conservation, the treaty aims to foster international cooperation, ensuring fair access to ocean resources, sharing the benefits derived from the ocean, and supporting the development of marine technology in poorer countries. This spirit of inclusivity was emphasized by Ambassador Rena Lee, who led the treaty’s discussions: “This is a critical milestone for the ocean. I congratulate all who have ratified the BBNJ Agreement, which covers the global commons, so we must continue to be inclusive and strive for universal participation.”
Palau, a small island nation in the Pacific, holds the distinction of being the first country to ratify the treaty back in January 2024. President Surangel S Whipps Jr expressed pride in Palau’s leadership and the collective commitment of countries to protect ocean biodiversity and confront climate change. “We are proud to ratify the BBNJ Treaty, and we celebrate alongside 60 other countries who have joined us in this global commitment,” Whipps said. “With 60 ratifications, the treaty will now enter into force, ushering in a new era of stewardship for the High Seas. Together, we are protecting marine biodiversity, advancing climate action, and ensuring that our ocean remains healthy and resilient for generations to come. 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.”
Despite the overwhelming support, some of the world’s most influential maritime nations—namely the United States, China, Russia, and Japan—have signed but not yet ratified the treaty. Signing indicates an intention to align with the treaty’s objectives, but without ratification, these countries are not legally bound by its terms. Their absence from the roster of ratifying nations has raised concerns among environmental groups and policy experts about the treaty’s ultimate strength and enforceability. As noted by the World Wildlife Fund’s senior vice president of Oceans, Johan Bergenas, “The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene.” The lack of a punitive enforcement body within the treaty means that much depends on individual countries regulating their own ships and companies.
The process of implementation is just beginning. Ratification triggered a 120-day countdown for the treaty to take effect, culminating in its entry into force in January 2026. Within a year of that date, the first Conference of Parties (COP1) will convene to address foundational questions about how the treaty will be implemented, financed, and overseen. Only countries that ratify before COP1 will have voting rights at this inaugural meeting, giving early adopters significant influence over the treaty’s future direction. Decisions under the treaty will be made multilaterally at these COPs, rather than by individual countries acting alone—a shift designed to foster true international collaboration.
Even as the world celebrates this milestone, environmental advocates are urging governments to keep up the momentum. Organizations such as the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) warn that harmful activities like deep-sea mining and destructive fishing could undermine the treaty’s goals unless governments act swiftly and decisively. The DSCC and others are calling for immediate measures to protect vulnerable areas of the ocean from these threats and to ensure that the new legal framework is not just symbolic but genuinely transformative.
The high seas play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate—they absorb heat and carbon dioxide, and generate half the oxygen we breathe. As the University of New South Wales’ Eliza Northrop highlighted during a panel on Ocean Accounts in Sydney, the health of these waters is inextricably linked to the health of the planet as a whole. “Failing to protect those waters could mean damage for any individual nation’s waters,” Speer added, underlining the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems.
With the UN General Assembly set to conclude on September 29, 2025, the message from diplomats, scientists, and advocates is clear: the High Seas Treaty is a new opportunity for global cooperation in ocean conservation. But its success will depend on decisive action, broad participation, and the political will to prioritize the health of our oceans for generations to come. The eyes of the world—and the hopes of future generations—are now fixed on the high seas.