In a historic closing to the third United Nations Ocean Conference, the long-awaited High Seas Treaty has surged closer to becoming international law. With 19 new ratifications secured this week in Nice, the total number of ratifying countries now stands at 50—just 10 short of the 60 needed for the Treaty to enter into force.
Nice, France — In a historic closing to the third United Nations Ocean Conference, the long-awaited High Seas Treaty has surged closer to becoming international law. With 19 new ratifications secured this week in Nice, the total number of ratifying countries now stands at 50—just 10 short of the 60 needed for the Treaty to enter into force. A momentous shift, years in the making, now hinges on a handful of nations.
“The journey toward a high seas treaty has been nearly as long as the great migrations of whales, sharks and turtles,” said Matthew Collis of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. “But the wave of new ratifications shows we are in the final stretch.”
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Racing the Clock: Treaty Ratification Nears Finish Line
The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the BBNJ Agreement, represents a global pact to govern and protect areas beyond national jurisdiction—covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean. As of Friday afternoon, nations from across the globe—from Vietnam and Indonesia to Denmark and Jamaica—formally deposited their ratification instruments with the UN. The EU, although having ratified, does not count toward the threshold due to its regional status.
Meanwhile, 20 additional countries signed the treaty, bringing the total number of signatories to 136 and signaling broad-based global support.
Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, underscored the urgency: “We must keep our foot on the #RaceForRatification accelerator. The treaty’s power lies in how many countries join.”
Beyond Symbolism: From Ratification to Implementation
With the 60-ratification milestone within reach, attention now turns to the formidable task of implementation. The European Union’s €40 million Global Ocean Programme has already earmarked €10 million in technical assistance for developing countries. Philanthropic support is also pouring in, including a $6.5 million pledge from the Minderoo Foundation.
The UN has launched a Preparatory Commission process to build institutional frameworks, identify marine protected areas, and ensure that governance mechanisms are inclusive and effective. Highlighted at the conference were priority conservation sites like the Costa Rica Thermal Dome and the Salas y Gomez Ridges.
Ernesto Fernández Monge of Oceans North emphasized the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge: “Protecting and sustainably managing the High Seas cannot come soon enough. This treaty must be built for and with all people.”
Asia-Pacific Stakes: Implications for Southeast Asia
For coastal and archipelagic states in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, the Treaty holds outsized significance. With vast exclusive economic zones and growing vulnerability to climate change, ratification is not just about conservation—it’s about regional security, food sovereignty, and economic stability.
Indonesia’s ratification during the conference signals rising momentum in the region. But other Southeast Asian countries must act swiftly to ensure they are not sidelined as governance structures are formalized.
While the High Seas Treaty dominated headlines, the conference spotlighted other critical issues. Calls to halt deep-sea mining gained traction, with 37 countries now supporting a pause or ban. Yet progress on ratifying the fisheries subsidies agreement remained slow.
“We can’t save the ocean on spare change,” one delegate remarked, highlighting the $550 billion annual gap in ocean conservation funding.
France and Brazil launched the Blue NDC Challenge, aiming to integrate ocean solutions into global climate strategies—a move hailed as long overdue by environmentalists.
“After 20 years, the High Seas Treaty is finally within reach,” concluded a closing statement from the High Seas Alliance. “But the final push didn’t happen in Nice. The ocean’s fate now depends on the courage of the remaining few.”
If the Treaty reaches the 60-country mark in the coming weeks, the countdown to its legal entry into force—120 days thereafter—will begin. Until then, the ocean’s future remains on the line, suspended between hope and hesitation.
The race is not yet over. But it is closer than ever before.
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