Morocco and Sierra Leone joined the list of states that ratified on Friday, becoming parts 60 and 61 of the pact.
The treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond the national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) was adopted by the UN Member States in June 2023 after almost two decades of negotiations.
A historical achievement
Secretary General António Guterres welcomed the development, calling it “Historical achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism.“
“In two years, The states have turned the commitment into the action, demonstrating what is possible when the nations bind for the common good,“He said in a statement.
“As we face the triple planetary crises of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and pollution, This agreement is a lifeguard for the ocean and humanity.“
The pact, also called “high seas treaty”, covers two thirds of the oceanic area of the world that is beyond the national borders.
It establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity, share the benefits of marine genetic resources more fairly, create protected areas and strengthen scientific cooperation and capacities development.
Base of our existence
The executive director of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), Uger Andersen, also acclaimed the milestone.
“Our ocean is the basis of our own existence. Today we took an important step forward to save our ocean and to save our future, ”he said in a publication on social networks.
Safeguard the future of humanity
The BBNJ agreement is based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, considered as the “Constitution of the Oceans.”
Once the high seas treaty enters into force on January 17, 2026, it will provide a global framework to help achieve international biodiversity goals, including the promise to protect 30 percent of land and sea areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Monreal global biodiversity framework.
Mr. Guterres urged all the remaining UN Member States to join the treaty without delay and asked partners to support their rapid and complete implementation.
“Ocean health is the health of humanity,“, Said.