In a significant stride toward global ocean conservation, the European Union and six of its member states—Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovenia—have ratified the High Seas Treaty at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the High Seas Alliance reports. This collective action brings the total number of ratifications to 28, marking a pivotal moment in the journey to protect the vast, largely unregulated areas of our oceans known as the high seas.
The High Seas Treaty, officially titled the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), was adopted in June 2023. It aims to address the pressing need for a cohesive framework to conserve marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which comprise nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean. These regions are currently under mounting pressure from pollution, overexploitation, climate change, and decreasing biodiversity.
The ratification by these EU member states, alongside the EU itself, underscores a strong commitment to responsible and sustainable ocean governance.
It also highlights the importance of multilateral cooperation in tackling environmental degradation and biodiversity loss on a planetary scale. This move comes ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), scheduled to be held in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, 2025, where the treaty’s entry into force is expected to be a focal point of discussion and international momentum.
At its core, the treaty introduces a legal mechanism that allows nations to create large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters. These MPAs are essential for preserving marine ecosystems and safeguarding migratory species that travel beyond national borders. Currently, only around 1% of high seas areas are under some form of legal protection, leaving most of this space vulnerable to commercial exploitation and ecological damage.
The treaty also imposes obligations on environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Before any new industrial or exploratory ventures—such as deep-sea mining or large-scale fishing—can take place in these areas, a full evaluation of potential environmental consequences will be required. This is a critical step toward ensuring that economic interests do not override the need for ecological responsibility.
Moreover, the treaty acknowledges the imbalance in technological and scientific resources among nations. To counter this, it emphasises the importance of capacity building and the fair transfer of marine technologies. For many developing countries, participating in research, conservation, and resource management has often been out of reach due to limited funding or lack of access to cutting-edge tools. The treaty aims to change that by offering a more equitable framework for collaboration.
To help accelerate the treaty’s implementation, the EU has pledged €40 million as part of a broader Global Ocean Programme.
This funding will support developing nations—particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific—in building the institutional and scientific infrastructure needed to enforce the treaty’s objectives. This financial commitment not only strengthens the treaty’s practical viability but also positions the EU as a global leader in ocean conservation.
Still, there’s a long way to go. For the treaty to come into force, at least 60 countries need to ratify it. With 28 now on board, there is growing optimism, but also urgency. Marine scientists, conservation groups, and environmental advocates worldwide are calling on governments to act quickly and decisively. The hope is to meet the 60-ratification threshold by the time the UNOC convenes in 2025. That milestone would allow for the first legal instruments under the treaty to be enacted shortly thereafter.
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, expressed the broader implications of this progress, stating, “Today, the European Union takes a historic step towards protecting the world’s oceans and preserving the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystem. The ratification of the Treaty of the High Seas is a testament to our commitment to responsible and sustainable ocean governance, and we urge all countries to join us in this effort.”
The urgency of this effort cannot be overstated. The high seas are home to an astonishing array of biodiversity—from vast schools of tuna and swarming plankton to elusive deep-sea creatures and great migratory mammals like whales. These waters play a crucial role in carbon storage, climate regulation, and supporting the global food web. Yet, the lack of governance has allowed harmful activities to go largely unchecked, putting ecosystems and the benefits they provide at growing risk.
What sets this treaty apart is its emphasis on inclusivity, science-based policy, and legal enforceability.
It allows for the creation of governing bodies, including scientific and compliance committees, that can monitor implementation and make informed recommendations. This gives the treaty a level of credibility and function that many previous marine agreements lacked.
The High Seas Treaty is not just a bureaucratic win; it represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how humanity relates to the ocean. It serves as a vital reminder that the ocean does not belong to any one nation, but to everyone—and thus requires a shared commitment to stewardship.
If implemented as intended, the treaty could usher in a new era of marine protection. It could set the standard for future international agreements on shared environmental challenges, from the melting polar regions to space debris. But as with all ambitious agreements, its real value will depend on the will of nations to enforce it and to place long-term planetary health above short-term profit.
As the countdown continues toward the 2025 Ocean Conference in Nice, eyes will be on the global community to see whether it can rise to meet the moment. Ratifying the treaty is one thing—making it work is another. But with every country that signs on, the possibility of truly safeguarding the high seas becomes more real. And that’s something the whole planet has a stake in.