Understanding environmental significance of High Seas Treaty

September marked a historic breakthrough for ocean conservation. After two decades of complex negotiations, 73 countries, including members of the European Union, ratified the High Seas Treaty, a landmark agreement to protect international waters—vast stretches of ocean that have long existed beyond national jurisdiction and regulation.

This unprecedented accord establishes shared global governance over two-thirds of the world’s oceans, according to an article published by Newsweek, which recalls that those waters are often referred to as the planet’s “last frontier.”

The ratification represents a major milestone for both marine ecosystems and humanity. It supports the United Nations’ goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, outlining a framework for identifying and safeguarding areas that must be shielded from overfishing, industrial exploitation, and other environmentally harmful activities.

For centuries, international waters have been plagued by unregulated operations, resulting in severe environmental degradation. Unsustainable fishing, seabed mining, and pollution have devastated coral reefs and depleted marine life—endangering not only biodiversity but also human livelihoods.

Currently, overfishing poses a direct threat to three billion people who depend on fish as a primary source of protein, as well as 60 million workers whose incomes rely on the fishing industry. The continued depletion of fish stocks could destabilize food security, employment, and public health worldwide.

According to the article, the High Seas Treaty seeks to reverse these trends by introducing mechanisms for cooperation, conservation, and sustainable management of marine resources in international waters. Although the treaty will officially take effect in January 2026, several nations have already begun implementing its principles.

Chile launched the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) First Movers initiative, encouraging countries to begin identifying and mapping potential marine protected areas in the high seas. This proactive approach aims to accelerate the process of designating protected regions even before the treaty’s formal activation.

In West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also taken early action. Comprising 12 member nations, ECOWAS is developing a regional framework to safeguard marine biodiversity. Its efforts include collecting scientific data, evaluating potential conservation zones, and formulating a coordinated strategy for sustainable ocean governance.

By acting ahead of the global enforcement timeline, these regional efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to the treaty’s vision and highlight the growing momentum for ocean protection.

Momentum continued to build at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where Panama proposed establishing the first transnational marine reserve, covering ten million square kilometers of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Panama already protects more than 54 percent of its territorial waters, far exceeding the 30 percent conservation target, creating vital sanctuaries for migratory marine species. As a founding member of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, Panama’s leadership underscores the importance of multinational cooperation in protecting interconnected marine ecosystems.

While the ratification of the High Seas Treaty marks a historic achievement, experts caution that the most challenging phase lies ahead. The article believes that the real test will be translating commitments into tangible action—identifying, designating, and enforcing protected areas across the vast and often inaccessible high seas. Sustained political will, international collaboration, and adequate funding will be essential to ensure success.

By Nazrin Sadigova