An important step forward in the ratification of the High Seas Treaty

The High Seas Alliance congratulates the six European Union (EU) Member States that, along with the EU, deposited their instruments of ratification at the United Nations Headquarters yesterday in New York. This coordinated effort brings the official number of ratifications of the High Seas Treaty to 28.

The countries in question—Cyprus, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia, Latvia, and Portugal—now join Spain and France, which already ratified the Treaty in February 2025. The action of these EU Member States represents a significant step forward toward the 60 ratifications needed for the treaty to enter into force and become legally binding international law. Although the EU has also deposited its ratification, as a regional economic integration organization, it does not count additionally in the official ratification tally.

"This momentum in ratifications by the EU and its Member States constitutes a powerful acceleration towards the Treaty's entry into force just days before a major ocean conference in Nice, France," said Nathalie Rey, Europe Regional Coordinator for the High Seas Alliance.

"EU leadership is essential to addressing the crises affecting climate and biodiversity. This bold step forward sends a clear message that ocean protection is not an option, but a global priority. We urge other EU Member States, as well as other countries, to follow this same path without delay."

The EU, together with many governmental and civil society organizations, has committed to achieving the necessary 60 ratifications by the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025. To date, in addition to the 28 registered ratifications, 115 countries have signed the Treaty, thereby demonstrating their commitment to ratification. The other EU Member States are expected to submit their instruments of ratification in the coming months, ideally before the first Conference of the Parties, which will take place within one year of the Treaty's entry into force.

International waters, also known as the high seas, which cover almost half the planet, are woefully underprotected, with only 1.5% of the total currently protected within marine protected areas (MPAs). The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), was adopted in June 2023 and marks a historic milestone in global ocean governance.

The Treaty paves the way for the creation of marine protected areas on the high seas and promotes equity in the ocean, ensuring greater support for developing countries through capacity building, access to tools and technology, and benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources.

“This new Global Ocean Treaty represents a rare and decisive opportunity—a silver lining in this fractured world,” explained Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance. “A healthy ocean underpins a stable future for all of us. We must integrate ocean action into every diplomatic agenda, because no single country can solve this environmental crisis alone. We must increase political pressure to reach 60 ratifications, and then continue to push for the accession of as many countries as possible to give this Treaty real power.”

A special event on the High Seas Treaty is scheduled for June 9, 2025, during the United Nations Ocean Conference, where other countries are expected to deposit their instruments of ratification.

The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes uses the term "High Seas Treaty" as a shorthand reference to the BBNJ Agreement. HSA recognizes that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement covers all areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seabed and the water column. This choice of wording is intended to facilitate understanding by a broad audience and is not intended to convey a prioritization among the components or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.

Follow countries' progress on the High Seas Treaty and learn more about the #RaceForRatification here. You can find more information about the High Seas Treaty in this fact sheet and this FAQ.

Signature does not determine the consent of states to abide by the provisions of the Treaty, but rather expresses the signatory state's willingness to pursue the treaty-making process and proceed with ratification. Signature also creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from actions that might frustrate the object and purpose of the Treaty. Ratification occurs when nations formally accept new international law, which often involves ensuring that their respective national laws are consistent with it. The speed and process of ratification varies by country. In some countries, the act of ratification is simply a decree from the head of state or government, while in other countries it requires parliamentary approval.

Depositing an instrument of ratification is the formal step by which a country officially confirms its consent to be legally bound by an international treaty, in this case, at the headquarters of the United Nations. This is the final step in the ratification process following national approval.