Nations ratify world's first treaty to protect marine biodiversity in international waters

Nations ratify world’s first treaty to protect marine biodiversity in international waters World Sep 19, 2025 4:35 PM EDT

SEATTLE (AP) — A major agreement to protect marine diversity in the high seas was struck Friday when Morocco became the 60th nation to sign on, paving the way for the treaty to take effect next year.

The High Seas Treaty is the first legal framework aimed at protecting biodiversity in international waters, those that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country. International waters account for nearly two-thirds of the ocean and nearly half of Earth’s surface and are vulnerable to threats including overfishing, climate change and deep-sea mining.

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“The high seas