Grant Brown —Thu 1 Jan 2026

A major international agreement to protect ocean areas beyond the control of any country will take effect on January 17, 2025. The High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, reached the 60-country minimum required to take effect after 74 nations ratified it.

The treaty covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean, protecting areas of the sea and seabed that don’t fall under the control of any single nation. These international waters face growing threats from mining, fishing, and climate change.

The agreement creates new rules for activities in international waters. It focuses on four main areas: sharing benefits from marine genetic resources, creating protected ocean areas, assessing environmental impacts, and transferring technology between nations. 

New international bodies will enforce the treaty’s requirements. These organizations will work alongside existing groups like the International Seabed Authority and regional fisheries management groups that already regulate mining and fishing. The treaty supports the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

The agreement includes several key principles for ocean management. Countries must follow a precautionary approach when effects aren’t well understood. They should use the best available science and traditional knowledge. The treaty also requires an ecosystem-based approach that considers how different parts of the ocean work together.

One important principle makes polluters responsible for cleanup costs. Another ensures that benefits from marine resources get shared fairly, including with Indigenous peoples. The treaty acknowledges the ocean’s crucial role in absorbing carbon and emphasizes the need to build resilience to climate change.

The High Seas Treaty works under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which established legal rules for territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves. Many countries ratified that earlier convention in the 1990s.

Deep-sea areas beneath international waters contain a rich biodiversity. Much of it remains undescribed by scientists. These areas include unique habitats that support deepwater corals, sponges, and fish species found nowhere else.

Bottom trawling, which uses large nets to scrape the seafloor, can damage these habitats. The practice catches unwanted species along with target fish. Bycatch can include deepwater corals and sponges, destroying homes for fish and other ocean life.

While the treaty doesn’t directly regulate fishing or mining, it influences how these activities can be conducted. Countries must now consider environmental impacts more carefully. They must also share the benefits from ocean resources more equitably.

The treaty reflects what experts now consider best practices for ocean management. It aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. This shows a growing global awareness about protecting ocean resources.

Countries that sign the treaty must respect Indigenous peoples’ rights. They should incorporate traditional knowledge into decision-making regarding ocean use. This represents a shift toward more inclusive ocean governance worldwide.

The agreement requires countries to use ocean management approaches that build climate resilience. It recognizes the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle. This connects ocean protection directly to climate change solutions.

Some countries are moving faster than others to protect their ocean territories. The treaty establishes a new standard that all participating nations should adhere to. It creates accountability for countries’ actions in international waters.

Environmental advocates have long called for better ocean protection. Scientists support these efforts with research showing how human activities harm marine ecosystems. The treaty provides a legal framework to turn these concerns into action.

The high seas treaty ratification opens opportunities for countries to lead on ocean conservation. It provides tools for creating marine protected areas in international waters. These protected zones can help species recover and ecosystems heal.

For the treaty to work, countries must align their domestic laws with international standards. This entails updating older regulations to reflect the current state of scientific understanding. It also means enforcing rules consistently across different ocean uses.

The treaty’s environmental impact assessment requirements apply to future projects. This gives countries the opportunity to prevent damage before it occurs. It represents a shift from reacting to problems to preventing them.

Technology transfer provisions help developing nations participate in ocean science and management. The sharing of knowledge and tools can enhance ocean monitoring globally. It ensures that all countries can contribute to protecting international waters.

The High Seas Treaty ratification creates a framework for sharing benefits from marine genetic resources. These resources include organisms and substances found in the ocean that might have commercial or scientific value. Fair sharing ensures that all humanity benefits from ocean biodiversity.

Ocean advocates see the treaty as a step toward better global cooperation. It provides mechanisms for countries to work together on shared challenges. This cooperation becomes increasingly important as climate change affects ocean ecosystems.

The treaty’s success depends on strong enforcement and continued international cooperation. Countries must commit resources to monitoring, research, and protection efforts. They must also hold each other accountable for following the rules.

As the high seas treaty ratification takes effect, it will test whether international agreements can protect shared resources. The world’s oceans face unprecedented pressures from multiple sources. This agreement provides hope that collective action can make a difference.