An historic number of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty have been deposited this week at the United Nations Ocean Conference, bringing the total number of nations to have formally ratified the legislation to 49; a number now teetering on the edge of the critical 60 needed to see it enter into full force.

At a special High Seas Treaty event organised especially for the Conference taking place this week in Nice, France, 18 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, including Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, the Solomon Islands, Malta, Belgium, and Greece. 

This latest tranche of nations to have ratified the Treaty join the 31 countries – plus the European Union – that have already deposited their ratification prior to the conference. This now brings the total number of ratifications to 49.

An additional 17 counties also signed the Treaty, marking their intention to ratify it in the future, taking the total number of signatories to 134.

The Treaty, formally titled the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) officially opened for signing and ratification in September 2023. France, co-hosting the UN Ocean Conference with Costa Rica this year, has made accelerating Treaty ratification a key deliverable.

“Today’s surge of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty is a tidal wave of hope and a huge cause for celebration,” said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. “This marks a powerful victory for everyone who worked relentlessly to put High Seas protection at the heart of the global environmental agenda.

“Our deepest thanks go to the countries that stepped up and showed true political leadership of getting towards the first 60 to ratify the Treaty. While many international agreements take years to enter into force, the action here in Nice today is a testament to the global momentum and urgency of action for the ocean.

“With just 11 more ratifications needed for entry into force, it could be just a matter of weeks before the 60 is achieved.”

Covering nearly half the planet, the High Seas – the international waters that lie beyond countries’ maritime borders – are woefully under-protected, with only 1.5% currently safeguarded within marine protected areas. The robust measures under the Treaty will be vital for achieving international agreements including Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.

This week in Nice, a high-level event Celebrating High Seas Action, co-organised by the High Seas Alliance and partners brought together government and Indigenous leaders, international organisations, civil society, philanthropy, scientists, and youth to spotlight efforts to advance the High Seas agenda. Many government leaders announced imminent ratification plans.

A key highlight was the relaunch of the High Ambition Coalition of governments for BBNJ, co-chaired by Palau, Seychelles, and the European Union.

“The EU is proud to have ratified the BBNJ and it calls, jointly with Palau and Seychelles, all countries to join the High Ambition Coalition on BBNJ to support its ambitious implementation,” said Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries. “The EU also stands with its partners to implement the BBNJ, including through the 40 million Global Ocean Programme.”

Notable in their absence from the list of nations to have now deposited their ratifications of the High Sea Treaty is the UK who signed and committed to the international legislation upon its launch in 2023. Despite messaging that the UK wants to lead on issues of global environmental protection, it will now be among the final nations to ratify the Treaty and bring it to critical 60.

“The UK government wants to be a leader on climate and nature, but 50 others have beaten them to it on ocean protection,” said Chris Thorne, senior oceans campaigner with the environmental NGO, Greenpeace UK.

“This vital international agreement could soon enter into force and begin delivering protection at sea on a scale we’ve never seen before. We’re tantalisingly close to a huge moment for the planet and the UK government could have pushed us closer. 

“Embarrassingly, despite having had 20 months to do it, it hasn’t even begun the parliamentary process to sign the Treaty into UK law.”

The campaign group has called out Prime Minister Keir Starmer for delaying the action, urging the UK government to bring the legislation to parliament before the summit concludes this Friday.

“His government must also loudly support calls for a global moratorium on deep sea mining,” added Thorne. “Global ocean protection cannot wait, and Starmer’s government shouldn’t either. This historic Treaty can help to protect a third of our blue planet from threats like industrial fishing, which devastates marine life. The UK needs to get onboard.”

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