Nations ratify the world’s first treaty to protect international waters

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🗞️ Driving the news: The world’s first treaty to protect international waters will officially enter into force in 2026 after Morocco became the 60th country to ratify the agreement
• Known as the High Seas Treaty, it establishes a legal framework for conserving biodiversity in international waters — areas that make up nearly half of the Earth’s surface and lie outside any single nation's jurisdiction

🔭 The context: The treaty, under negotiation for nearly two decades, addresses long-standing regulatory gaps in the governance of the high seas, which are increasingly threatened by overfishing, climate change, deep-sea mining and unregulated commercial activity
• Its adoption is central to achieving the “30x30” target — the global pledge to protect 30% of land and marine ecosystems by 2030
• Although signed by the U.S. and China, major high seas actors like Japan and Russia have yet to ratify

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: High seas ecosystems are critical for regulating the global climate, absorbing carbon, and sustaining marine biodiversity
• Without international coordination, these areas face irreversible ecological harm
• The treaty enables the creation of marine protected areas, introduces governance for new ocean activities, and enhances international cooperation on science and technology — all essential for preserving ocean health and climate resilience.

⏭️ What's next: The treaty will enter into force 120 days after ratification by 60 nations, triggering the first Conference of the Parties in 2026
• Only countries that ratify beforehand will have voting rights on implementation, financing, and compliance
• Experts warn that without the participation of major fishing nations, enforcement may remain fragmented and difficult
• Advocates stress that ratification is only the beginning — significant investment in monitoring, regulation, and political will is now required to translate commitments into protection

💬 One quote: “The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene — they’re unmanaged, unenforced, and a regulatory legal structure is absolutely necessary.” — Johan Bergenas, Senior Vice President for Oceans, World Wildlife Fund

📈 One stat: International waters make up nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half of the Earth’s surface

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