HIGH SEAS TREATY: First treaty to protect international waters

With Morocco’s ratification last week, the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, is now in place. The High Seas Treaty will enter into force in January 2026, 120 days after deposit. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, the BBNJ Agreement, has reached the required threshold of ratifications for entry into force. I welcome this historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism.”

It is seen as a major milestone. It provides the first binding global framework to manage and protect the world’s ocean commons, with the aim of safeguarding 30% of marine biodiversity by 2030