The treaty, adopted in June 2023, requires 60 ratifications to take effect. So far, only 29 countries have done so. The Philippines, while among the 116 signatories, has yet to finalize its ratification.
MANILA — With the clock ticking before the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France has intensified diplomatic pressure on the Philippines to ratify the High Seas Treaty — a landmark global accord to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. The treaty, adopted in June 2023, requires 60 ratifications to take effect. So far, only 29 countries have done so. The Philippines, while among the 116 signatories, has yet to finalize its ratification.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
French Ambassador Marie Fontaniel made an urgent appeal in Manila this week, warning that failure to ratify the treaty now could leave the Philippines sidelined from the earliest negotiations once the agreement enters into force. The high-stakes plea comes amid growing calls for coastal and archipelagic states like the Philippines to assert leadership in safeguarding global ocean health.
“We don’t want you to be next and not participate in the very first discussions,” Fontaniel said, urging lawmakers and advocates to act swiftly. “The Philippines is qualified to speak on ocean protection more than many others.”
A Treaty for the “Lawless Wilderness” of the High Seas
The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), aims to close regulatory gaps in international waters — areas that span nearly half the Earth’s surface yet fall outside any one nation’s control.
Marine biodiversity in these vast zones has long been threatened by overfishing, deep-sea mining, pollution, and fragmented legal oversight. For a country like the Philippines, with more than 7,600 islands and immense marine territory, the treaty presents a rare chance to shape rules that could protect both local fisheries and transboundary ecosystems.
“Marine wildlife doesn’t recognize borders,” said Vincent Kyle Parada, a former Philippine Navy analyst. “Exploiting international waters without regulation undermines fish populations everywhere — including ours.”
Ratification Delayed by Political, Economic, and Legal Complexities
Despite strong advocacy from environmental groups and strategic analysts, ratification faces delays. Observers say the Philippine Senate would need to act within days to meet the treaty’s momentum ahead of the UN Ocean Conference — an unlikely feat before Congress adjourns.
Geopolitical expert Lucio Blanco Pitlo III noted that many developing coastal states struggle to monitor their own exclusive economic zones, making treaty compliance daunting. “What happens if states can’t enforce protections beyond their borders?” Pitlo asked.
Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase-ADR Institute, agreed, citing uncertainty over treaty obligations, marine protected area oversight, and industry concerns as contributing to the holdup.
Still, analysts argue that delaying ratification risks strategic and environmental costs, particularly for a nation with a recent history of maritime legal victories, such as the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.
France and Advocacy Groups Push ASEAN to Take the Lead
France, the host of this year’s UN Ocean Conference, has spearheaded efforts to rally international support for the treaty. Ambassador Fontaniel’s visit to Manila was part of a broader push across Asia to shore up support before the 60-country ratification threshold is met.
“This is a chance for the Philippines to show global leadership on ocean governance,” said Rizza Sacra-Dejucos of the High Seas Alliance. “It would send a strong signal that Manila is committed to the 30×30 goal — protecting 30% of Earth’s land and oceans by 2030.”
The treaty also aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the legal framework under which the Philippines secured its arbitral win against China. That alignment could bolster the country’s standing as a rules-based maritime actor, analysts say.
Beyond Ratification: A Blueprint for Ocean Stewardship
The treaty’s long-term significance lies in establishing marine protected areas in the high seas, managing sustainable use of ocean resources, and safeguarding ecosystems under threat. It also seeks to address environmental injustice by giving smaller coastal nations a say in global ocean governance — a voice often overpowered by distant-water fishing nations and industrial players.
While the Philippines may not meet the ratification deadline before Nice, advocates remain hopeful. The country’s leadership on marine law and its high vulnerability to climate and ocean-related threats make ratification not just a diplomatic move, but a moral and environmental imperative.
“We need rational thinking in this time of crisis,” said Giorgio Budi Indrarto of Madani, echoing regional sentiments from other environmental efforts. “This isn’t about being pessimistic — it’s about being sensible.”
If the Philippines wants to shape the future of the world’s oceans, observers warn, it must act now — before the tide of global consensus leaves it behind.
You may also be interested in :
Southeast Asia’s Resilient Fisheries Defy Global Trends: New Study Reveals Surprising Sustainability
