Humpback whales in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
The High Seas Treaty, the first legally binding international agreement to safeguard marine life in international waters, will enter into force in January 2026, after securing the required 60 ratifications to take effect.
The milestone was reached after Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone and Morocco deposited their instruments of ratification at the United Nations this week.
"As we confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this Agreement is a lifeline for the ocean and humanity," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in an official statement.
"I commend all who have ratified. I urge every State to join without delay, and all partners to support a swift, full implementation. The ocean’s health is humanity’s health," Guterres added.
The agreement, officially known as the BBNJ Treaty (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), aims to improve conservation and governance of international waters, which make up nearly half the planet, play a vital role in climate regulation and biodiversity, but remain largely unprotected. The multilateral agreement is thus seen as essential to meeting global environmental targets, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) commitment to protect 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030.
The treaty will become legally effective on 17 January 2026, 120 days following the 60th ratification.
“This historic moment is the culmination of years of dedication and global diplomacy by governments and stakeholders,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Director of NGO coalition the High Seas Alliance. “The High Seas Treaty is a powerful testament to multilateralism - showing what the world can achieve when we come together for the common good for our ocean, which covers more than 70% of the planet. Today marks an important step when promises start becoming action.”
The High Seas cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean and play a vital role in climate regulation and biodiversity. The treaty provides tools to halt biodiversity loss and prevent ocean degradation by enabling the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters and requiring environmental impact assessments for planned human activities.
It also seeks to promote equity for developing countries through sharing knowledge, technology and the benefits of marine genetic resources, while building scientific and institutional capacity.
Adopted in June 2023 after nearly 20 years of negotiations, the treaty opened for signature in September 2023. Palau was the first country to ratify it in January 2024. Since then, countries from every region have joined, with 142 nations and the European Union having signed to signal their intent to ratify.
Under the agreement, the first Conference of the Parties (CoP) must be held within a year of the treaty coming into force, likely in late 2026. Preparatory work is already underway at the UN to set up the necessary institutions and processes to ensure its effective implementation.
The High Seas Alliance said governments and stakeholders are also preparing High Seas MPA proposals to protect critical biodiversity sites once the treaty is operational. Sites under consideration include the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges, the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea, the Sargasso Sea, and the Thermal Dome in the Eastern Pacific.
While celebrating the milestone, Hubbard echoed Guterres in emphasising that the bid for further ratifications of the High Seas Treaty continues.
“Achieving 60 ratifications is not the finish line — it’s just the starting block,” she said. “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.”
Additional ratifications are expected to be announced during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, which begins in New York today (22 September).