Groundbreaking High Seas Treaty Set to Transform Ocean Conservation

Mon Sep 29 2025 01:54:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The High Seas Treaty, aiming to protect the world's oceans, has reached the necessary ratification threshold and is expected to become international law by January. Environmentalists celebrate this landmark achievement as a pivotal moment in marine conservation.

The High Seas Treaty, which aims to safeguard ocean biodiversity and reverse damage to marine ecosystems, has gained its 60th ratification from Morocco. Set to take effect in January, the treaty mandates that 30% of the world's high seas be designated as Marine Protected Areas. This milestone is heralded by conservationists as a monumental step towards global cooperation in ocean protection.

A global agreement designed to protect the world's oceans and reverse damage to marine life is set to become international law.

The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January.

The deal, which has been two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas.

Environmentalists heralded the milestone as a monumental achievement and evidence that countries can work together for environmental protection.

According to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity. Decades of overfishing, pollution from shipping, and the warming of oceans due to climate change have significantly damaged marine life.

In the latest assessment, nearly 10% of marine species were found to be at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Three years ago, countries committed to protecting 30% of the world's national and international waters—known as the high seas—by 2030 to facilitate recovery of depleted marine life.

However, protecting the high seas remains challenging, as no single country controls these waters, leading to shared rights for shipping and fishing. Currently, just 1% of the high seas are protected, leaving marine life vulnerable to overexploitation.

In 2023, countries signed the High Seas Treaty, pledging to establish Marine Protected Areas in 30% of these waters. The treaty could enter force only after more than 60 nations ratified it, which has now been achieved in record time.

Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International, described the ratification as a monumental achievement for ocean conservation, suggesting it would enhance collaboration across international waters.

Mads Christensen, executive director of Greenpeace International, called it a landmark moment, emphasizing the need to cease exploitation and destruction of ocean ecosystems.

Once in effect, countries will propose areas for protection, which will then be voted on by treaty signatories. Critics, however, express concern that individual countries will conduct their own environmental impact assessments and make final decisions, despite the ability for others to voice concerns.

The ocean is essential for global survival, serving as the largest ecosystem, contributing an estimated $2.5 trillion to world economies, and providing up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe.