February 14, 2025
The EU enters the race for the High Seas Treaty
The EU is stepping up to ratify the High Seas Treaty, also known as the BBNJ Agreement – the UN treaty designed to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. These international waters begin 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the coast. On February 4, Spain became the first EU country to ratify the agreement, followed by France just one day later!
Why is this important?
The high seas cover 60% of the ocean’s surface and 95% of its volume. They are home to a wide range of wildlife, from migratory cetaceans and sea turtles to lesser-known seabed creatures and commercially valuable fish stocks.
Although industrial activities do take place in the high seas, there is currently no legal framework to designate marine protected areas (MPAs) in this vast region. MPAs exist only in national waters, making it difficult to safeguard the high seas and achieve the 30 x 30 goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.
The High Seas Treaty provides a pathway to creating high seas protections. International negotiations at the UN began in 2004, and the agreement was ultimately adopted in 2023. The BBNJ Agreement will enter into force 120 days after 60 countries have ratified it. While many countries have signed it, only 17 have ratified it so far. The EU already signed the agreement, and its member states have committed to ratifying it before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025. So, we can expect more good news soon! Once the Treaty enters into force, we will need continued commitment from countries to use it to designate protections.
Pascale Moehrle, Vice President for Oceana in Europe, said: “Ratifying the High Seas Treaty is a crucial step toward safeguarding the immense surface of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column. Protecting high-sea ecosystems is critical to preserving vulnerable wildlife and marine habitats, strongly contributing to the health of the ocean by setting out clearer means to conserve biodiversity in international waters. MPAs in the high seas will be an essential tool to halt the degradation of valuable and vulnerable marine habitats”.
Oceana is a member of the High Seas Alliance, which manages an informative map to track the race for ratification – check it out!
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