By Jackson Okata
The High Seas Treaty has reached 100 parties after Germany, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Canada,
Australia and Brunei Darussalam deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this week. This triple-figure milestone comes almost a year after the Treaty crossed the 60-ratification threshold needed for entry into force, and brings the Agreement closer to universal ratification.
The Treaty officially entered into force on 17 January 2026, following almost two decades of discussion and negotiation. It delivers the world’s first comprehensive legal framework to protect ocean life on the High Seas- nearly half the planet’s surface– and offers a vital tool to help combat the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
With the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) scheduled for January 2027, the Treaty is now entering a new phase: its implementation. COP1’s priority will be agreeing on the institutional setup and operating rules needed for long-term success. This marks a clear shift to delivering on the reason the Treaty was agreed in the first place- the urgent need for protection of ocean life on the High Seas. Critical to this will be establishing highly and fully protected Marine Protected Areas and setting rigorous standards for environmental impact assessments.
The Treaty’s membership already spans every region of the world- from major maritime powers to small island big ocean states, from developed to developing states and notably several landlocked countries, underlining that High Seas protection is a shared global responsibility, not just a coastal one.
However, legitimacy, equity and effective governance of the High Seas will depend on continued growth in the number and diversity of parties. Only ratifying countries can vote and shape the Treaty’s decisions, which means countries that have not yet ratified will not have a seat at the table to decide the rules for nearly half the planet.
Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, said the development marks real momentum in the world uniting around ocean protection, even in divided times.
“We need more countries to ratify to achieve equitable global ocean protection by 2030. Parties need to show up ready to engage at COP1 so this wave of support turns into real decisions, not just symbolism. How countries engage in this first critical meeting will set the tone for every COP that follows, and too much is on the line to get this wrong.”
The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes uses the term “High Seas Treaty’’ as a shorthand for the BBNJ Agreement. HSA acknowledges that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement encompasses all Areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column.
Dr Aristide Takoukam Kamla, President and Founder of the African Marine Conservation Organisation (AMCO), said the ratifications by African countries show that the continent intends to help shape ocean governance, not simply follow it.
For coastal communities in Central and West Africa, a protected high seas means healthier fisheries, thriving marine wildlife and a more secure future.” Said Dr Kamla.
