UN High Seas Treaty Enters Into Force

A major United Nations treaty designed to protect biodiversity in the high seas has officially entered into force, marking a historic step in global ocean governance. The treaty, known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), creates a legally binding framework to address threats such as overfishing, pollution, and ecosystem degradation in international waters, which make up about two-thirds of the world’s oceans and nearly half of the Earth’s surface.

The agreement was finalized in March 2023 after 15 years of negotiations and became operational once it reached the required 60 national ratifications in September of the following year. Since then, more than 80 countries have ratified it, including China, Brazil, and Japan, with others expected to join. Although the United States signed the treaty, it has not yet ratified it, which limits its formal participation.

One of the treaty’s main goals is to help achieve the global target of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. To do this, it allows for the creation of a global network of marine protected areas in regions of the ocean that were previously largely unregulated. Currently, only about 8% of the ocean is protected, meaning a massive expansion of conservation areas will be needed.

Under the BBNJ framework, countries are required to conduct environmental impact assessments for activities that could harm marine ecosystems. The treaty also introduces mechanisms to ensure fair sharing of benefits from the “blue economy,” including the use of marine genetic resources in industries like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

However, the treaty has clear limitations. It does not regulate deep-sea mining, which many environmentalists consider one of the most serious emerging threats to ocean health. Authority over seabed mining remains with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), not the BBNJ treaty. As a result, while the agreement is seen as a major breakthrough for ocean conservation, experts emphasize that its effectiveness will depend on widespread ratification, strong enforcement, and complementary regulations addressing activities beyond its scope.