High Seas Treaty – Factsheet

26 May, 2023

A momentous milestone for the ocean and global biodiversity

On 4 March 2023, after 5 years of negotiations, the world reached a significant milestone for the global ocean and efforts to stem global biodiversity decline when nations agreed a new High Seas Treaty to protect ocean life. The Treaty reached the 60 ratifications needed to enter into force in September 2025 and it entered into force in January 2026. The new Treaty will provide the legal framework to address many of the governance gaps that have plagued the ocean and provide a roadmap to conserve biodiversity areas that lie beyond national jurisdiction.

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Treaty Q&A

14 March, 2023

On 4 March 2023, after almost two decades of discussion, including five years of negotiations, the world’s governments finalized the text of a new United Nations (UN) Treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), under the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS). After the text was legally “scrubbed” and translated into the six official UN languages, the final Treaty text was formally adopted by Member States at the UN on 19 June 2023.

In September 2025, the Treaty reached the required 60 ratifications, triggering the 120-day countdown to its entry into force on 17 January 2026. The Treaty is now binding international law, and governments must continue ratifying and move swiftly into implementation to ensure it delivers lasting protection for the global ocean.

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10 Steps to Marine Protection

1 July, 2016

Greenpeace’s recommendations on the identification, designation, management and enforcement of marine protected areas and marine reserves in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the new UN Ocean Agreement.

Produced by: Greenpeace

Download paper, here.