Photo by Jakob Owens

A landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas has reached the critical threshold of 60 ratifications needed to enter into force, clearing the way for it to take effect in January 2026. Morocco and Sierra Leone became the 60th and 61st parties to ratify the Agreement on Friday, triggering a 120-day countdown to the treaty’s entry into force on 17 January 2026.

The High Seas Treaty, formally 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), represents the first legally binding international agreement safeguarding marine life in the High Seas, which covers two-thirds of the world’s ocean area.

World leaders hail multilateral achievement

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the development, calling it a “historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism”. He said: “In two years, States have turned commitment into action – proving what is possible when nations unite for the common good. As we confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this agreement is a lifeline for the ocean and humanity.”

IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar described the ratification milestone as “a powerful testament to what the world can achieve when we unite for the common good of our ocean.” She added: “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% of the ocean by 2030.”

President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau, which became the first country to ratify the agreement on 22 January 2024, celebrated the milestone: “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. Together, we are protecting marine biodiversity, advancing climate action, and ensuring that our ocean remains healthy and resilient for generations to come.”

Environmental groups welcome breakthrough and call for swift implementation

Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, said: “This historic moment is the culmination of years of dedication and global diplomacy by governments and stakeholders. 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.”

However, she warned: “Achieving 60 ratifications is not the finish line–it’s just the starting block. The Treaty’s true strength lies in universal participation.”

Greenpeace International Executive Director Mads Christensen called it “a landmark moment” and “proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet.” He added: “The era of exploitation and destruction must end, and the Global Ocean Treaty is the tool to make that happen. Our ocean can’t wait and neither can we.”

Dr Katie Matthews, Oceana’s Chief Scientist, described the high seas as having been “a Wild West — lacking comprehensive oversight” and said ratification “will help bring order.” She emphasised: “For the first time, we have the legal foundation to safeguard marine diversity in waters that belong to everyone and no one at the same time. What matters now is turning paper into protection.”

The urgency is underscored by new analysis from Greenpeace International revealing that to fully protect 30% of the high seas by 2030, governments would need to protect more than 12 million square kilometres every year for the next five years – an area bigger than Canada.

Nichola Clark, a senior officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts, noted: “The speed at which it went from treaty adoption to entering into force is remarkable for an agreement of its scope and impact.” She added: “As the global community looks towards the first meeting of the treaty’s Conference of the Parties, countries must continue paving the way for swift implementation of the agreement.”

UK among countries still completing ratification

The UK government introduced the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill to Parliament on 10 September, with the second reading set for 16 October. Chris Thorne, Greenpeace UK senior oceans campaigner, warned: “While nations around the world celebrate this environmental breakthrough, the UK is chasing the leading group of ratifying countries. It is more vital than ever that the UK signs the Treaty into law by the end of the year and doesn’t risk missing the first Ocean COP.”

The BBC reported that with many nations requiring parliamentary approval, ratification can often take longer than five years, making the current timeline “record time” according to Elizabeth Wilson, senior director for environmental policy at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Treaty addresses critical ocean threats

The agreement comes as the BBC noted that “decades of overfishing, pollution from shipping and warming oceans from climate change have damaged life below the surface,” with nearly 10% of marine species found to be at risk of extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Currently just 1% of the high seas are protected, leaving marine life vulnerable to overexploitation. The treaty will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas and requires environmental impact assessments of planned activities.

As Al Jazeera reported, the treaty covers international waters that fall outside any single country’s exclusive economic zone and account for nearly two-thirds of the ocean and nearly half of Earth’s surface, offering new protections to as many as 10 million different species, many of which are still unidentified.

Enforcement challenges and deep-sea mining concerns

However, the treaty faces implementation challenges. According to Al Jazeera the agreement “does not create a punitive enforcement body of its own” and “largely relies on individual countries to regulate their own ships and companies.”

Torsten Thiele, founder of the Global Ocean Trust, warned: “If somebody hasn’t signed up, they’ll argue they’re not bound,” making universal ratification essential.

The treaty also addresses deep-sea mining concerns, with at least 38 countries calling for a moratorium until more is known about potential harm to marine ecosystems, whilst other countries including the US under President Trump want to press ahead.

Next steps and first conference of parties

Under the treaty, the first Conference of the Parties (CoP) must convene within a year of entry into force, likely toward the end of 2026. Preparatory work is already underway at the UN to build the institutions and processes needed for the first Ocean COP.

Countries are also laying the groundwork for developing High Seas MPA proposals to protect critical biodiversity sites, including 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.

As Leneka Rhoden, the Caribbean Regional Coordinator at the High Seas Alliance, observed: “The true test of the treaty now lies ahead in implementation.”

In addition to the 60 countries that have ratified, a further 122 countries plus the European Union have signed the agreement, signalling their intention to ratify, with further ratifications expected during the upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.