Oceans Unite: Key Treaty Set to Protect Our Blue Planet

Tue Oct 21 2025 05:55:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A groundbreaking global agreement designed to safeguard the world's oceans and restore marine life is officially ready to become law. This pivotal treaty, known as the High Seas Treaty, will come into effect in January after receiving its 60th ratification.

The High Seas Treaty has cleared the necessary threshold to become international law, paving the way for enhanced marine protection across international waters. Ratified by Morocco as the 60th party, the treaty aims to establish marine protected areas covering 30% of the ocean by 2030, reflecting a major collective effort to conserve marine biodiversity. Environmentalists hail this moment as a monumental achievement, marking a significant legislative milestone in global ocean conservation efforts.

A global agreement designed to protect the world's oceans and reverse damage to marine life is set to become international law.

The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January.

The deal, which has been two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas.

Environmentalists heralded the milestone as a monumental achievement and evidence that countries can work together for environmental protection.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity over two-thirds of the ocean.

Decades of overfishing, pollution from shipping, and warming oceans due to climate change have severely impacted marine life. Currently, only 1% of the high seas are protected.

The treaty allows nations to propose marine areas for protection, which will be voted on by the signatory countries. Despite challenges in monitoring and enforcement, many see this treaty as a vital step toward sustainable ocean management.