A historic UN treaty enters into force, setting rules to protect high-seas biodiversity, create marine reserves, regulate industry, and advance cooperation as nations work toward protecting 30 percent of the oceans.
A landmark international treaty to conserve marine biodiversity in the high seas officially enters into force today, marking a historic step for ocean protection and global environmental governance.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the milestone, saying, “We made it.” He described it as a huge victory for the oceans, for life and for humanity.
The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, establishes the high seas, waters beyond any country’s exclusive economic zone, as a zone of shared responsibility. It provides a legal framework to conserve marine life, create protected areas, regulate sustainable use and promote scientific cooperation among nations.
The United Nations Environment Programme called it a historic moment for the oceans, noting, “Covering nearly half the planet and two-thirds of the ocean, the high seas are home to some of the most biodiverse yet vulnerable ecosystems on Earth. They are also under growing pressure from unsustainable activities, including the exploitation of natural resources.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature said the treaty creates the first-ever legally binding system to protect roughly half of the planet that lies beyond national borders. Until now, these vast waters existed in a regulatory vacuum. Despite their importance for food security, climate stability and biodiversity, barely one percent of the high seas had any meaningful protection.
The treaty gives governments the tools to establish marine protected areas, require environmental impact assessments before industrial activities and ensure benefits from marine genetic resources are shared fairly. Implementation will determine whether it succeeds. In the coming months, countries must finalize rules, institutions and financing to turn ambition into action. The High Ambition Coalition, co-chaired by the EU, Palau and Seychelles and now backed by more than 40 countries, will be central to ensuring the treaty delivers real protection at scale.
The treaty was ratified in September 2025 and represents the first legally binding international agreement to safeguard marine life beyond national borders. From just eight countries engaged in 2024, to 60 at the 2025 Nice Ocean Summit and now 83 states committed, it reflects unprecedented international cooperation. Experts say it will help achieve the global target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, covering more than half of the planet’s surface when combined with existing protected areas.
“This treaty ensures the high seas will no longer remain a lawless zone,” said Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global. He added, “It is the result of exceptional collective mobilization by negotiators, scientists and citizens worldwide.”
The agreement is expected to strengthen marine resource management, reduce overfishing, protect endangered species and enhance scientific research in international waters. Advocates describe it as a landmark example of cooperation, demonstrating that progress is possible when nations rally around what is essential.
With the treaty now in force, countries are expected to implement measures for marine protection, strengthen enforcement of sustainable practices and foster global collaboration to safeguard the high seas for future generations.
