Historic Ocean Treaty set to enter into force, opening path for marine biodiversity recovery

In a landmark moment for ocean protection, the High Seas Treaty has reached the threshold of 60 governments signing it into law, clearing the way for the historic agreement to enter into force. This is the most important global agreement on the environmental crisis since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. 

With less than 1% of the High Seas currently fully or highly protected, the Treaty is crucial to expanding protection, establishing sanctuaries that allow biodiversity to recover and wildlife to thrive, helping to mitigate the climate crisis, and safeguarding food security for the billions who depend on ocean resources. The High Seas Treaty has the power to create the largest network of global marine sanctuaries in history, shielding over a third of the ocean from destructive activities, like industrial fishing and oil drilling. 

Governments set the ambitious target of protecting at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, but with biodiversity in steep decline and less than five years left on the clock, the race is on. New analysis by Greenpeace International has revealed that to fully protect 30% of the high seas by 2030, governments would need to protect more than 12 million square kilometres every year for the next five years – an area bigger than Canada.[1]

The Treaty will enter into force in 120 days, paving the way for the world’s first-ever Ocean Conference of Parties (Ocean COP1), expected next year. Greenpeace is calling on the countries that are not part of the first 60, including the UK, to take urgent action and complete ratification of the Treaty quickly and well in advance of Ocean COP1. Ensuring the Treaty is passed into UK law by the end of 2025 would be a significant achievement for the new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

On 10 September, the UK government introduced the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill to Parliament, which will enable the UK to ratify the Treaty. The second reading is set for 16 October, which will be the first time MPs will have a chance to discuss the bill. Following the passing of the bill, the government has stated that further secondary legislation will be required before the Treaty can be ratified by the UK. It is crucial for this process to be completed in advance of the first Conference of the Parties (Ocean COP1) in order for the UK to attend and put forward ambitious proposals to fully protect huge areas of the ocean, including the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic.

Chris Thorne, Greenpeace UK senior oceans campaigner, said:

“This is a bold testament to what humanity can accomplish when we come together to protect the planet we all share. But while nations around the world celebrate this environmental breakthrough, the UK is chasing the leading group of ratifying countries. The ocean is in urgent peril — along with its rich wildlife and the coastal communities that depend on it. It is more vital than ever that the UK signs the Treaty into law by the end of the year and doesn’t risk missing the first Ocean COP. The government can then show global leadership by putting forward ambitious proposals to fully protect huge areas of the ocean such as 30% of the Atlantic, including the Sargasso Sea.”

Mads Christensen, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, said: 

“This is a landmark moment for protecting the ocean, and proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet. The era of exploitation and destruction must end, and the Global Ocean Treaty is the tool to make that happen. But we must not get complacent. Scientists are clear that we need to protect at least 30% of our ocean by 2030, and time is running out. Governments around the world must use this time now to ensure the first historic Ocean COP becomes a turning point, and start to develop plans for the first-ever sanctuaries under the Treaty. Our ocean can’t wait and neither can we.” 

Campaigners are warning that immediate action is required from nations to start developing plans for high seas sanctuaries as time is running out to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030:

• Governments must now mobilise and use the next few months before the first Ocean COP to develop proposals for new high seas sanctuaries. These areas must be fully or highly protected to ensure that vast areas of the ocean are closed to extractive and destructive human activities, unlike many current Marine Protected Areas which are protected in name only.
• Governments must ensure that the Treaty has the power to implement measures quickly, without being tied up in delays or having to rely on bodies like Regional Fisheries Management Organisations which have overseen the depletion of the ocean for decades.[2]
• Governments need to ensure that the development of sanctuaries are based on robust scientific evidence and with participation from Indigenous Peoples and local communities to ensure the process is both driven by science and is socially just.

Greenpeace and millions of supporters are also calling on countries to show the same level of ambition as with the High Seas Treaty and join a moratorium on deep sea mining, a new highly destructive form of mining that would destroy the oceans beyond repair.[3] 

Ends

Contacts:

Alexandra Sedgwick, Press Officer at Greenpeace UK, +44 7739 963 301, alexandra.sedgwick@greenpeace.org 

Notes to Editors

[1] The calculation is based on numbers provided by the Marine Protection Atlas

Currently, only 0.9% of the total High Seas area is fully or highly protected. To reach the target of protecting 30% of the High Seas by 2030, an additional 29.1% is still needed. This 29.1% was divided by five to determine how many km2 of the High Seas must be fully/highly protected each year between 2026 and 2030.

[2] Greenpeace report reveals shocking failures in global fisheries management 

[3] Greenpeace deep sea mining petition