An international agreement to safeguard marine life is now in effect. Known as the High Seas Treaty, it represents the first time that international waters, which lie outside of any country’s jurisdiction and cover nearly half the globe, can be protected.
The United Nations discussed the treaty for more than two decades, and formal negotiations began in 2017. The final text makes it possible for countries to create environmentally protected zones in international waters and includes requirements for new ocean industries.
It comes into effect as the United States is reviewing a company’s application to explore the deep sea floor for precious minerals, though, seabed mining is generally covered by a separate treaty. The authority created by that treaty has spent years deliberating rules for deep sea mining in international waters, but has not yet greenlit any commercial activity.
In September, Morocco became the 60th country to ratify the High Seas Treaty, triggering a 120-day countdown for it to become international law. There are now 83 countries that have ratified it, though the United States has not. Countries that have ratified the treaty have pledged to cooperate and uphold its terms, but options for enforcing such international laws are limited.
Rena Lee, an ambassador of Singapore who led the final negotiations, said the start of the law was “a rare opportunity to make a positive difference in the high seas and deep seabed.” The treaty was motivated by a biodiversity goal set by a separate United Nations agreement in 2022 that pledged to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land and oceans by the year 2030.
The high seas, which have long been sparsely monitored and considered a maritime “wild west,” make up two-thirds of all ocean area, less than 10 percent of which is currently protected. “This is a game changer,” said Rebecca Hubbard, the director of the High Seas Alliance. “And in many ways, the work is just beginning.”
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