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.
Now that it is law, the new High Seas Treaty can be used to address many of the governance gaps that have plagued the ocean by setting out clearer ways to conserve biodiversity in the High Seas. For example, it enables the international community to conduct consistent environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of activities that could harm marine life and establish the first High Seas marine protected areas (MPAs). Below is an overview of some of the key questions and answers regarding the Treaty and its implementation.e
Download an overview of some of the key questions and answers regarding this new High Seas Treaty. Available in English I French I Spanish
High Seas Treaty Briefing
March 9, 2023