HUGE WAVE OF RATIFICATIONS FOR HIGH SEAS TREATY MARKS HISTORIC PROGRESS TOWARDS ENTRY INTO FORCE

Huge wave of ratifications for High Seas Treaty marks historic progress towards entry into force. At the 3rd  UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, High Seas Alliance congratulates progress on the historic number of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty that have just been deposited, bringing the Treaty much closer to the critical threshold of 60 ratifications needed for its entry into force. 

At a special High Seas Treaty event organised especially for the Conference, 18 countries deposited their instruments of ratification. Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu,  Malta, Vietnam, Jamaica, Albania, Bahamas, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Fiji, Mauritania, Vanuatu, Greece and Jordan  now join the 31 countries plus the European Union that have already deposited their ratification prior to the conference. This brings the total number of country ratifications to 49. An additional 17 countries also signed the Treaty, marking their intention to ratify it in the future, taking the total number of signatories to 134.

The Treaty, formally titled the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)–officially opened for signing and ratification in September 2023. France, co-hosting the UN Ocean Conference with Costa Rica, has made accelerating Treaty ratification a key deliverable, and has played a key diplomatic role in driving progress  ahead of the conference.

“Today’s surge of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty is a tidal wave of hope and a huge cause for celebration”, said Rebecca Hubbard, Director of High Seas Alliance. “This marks a powerful victory for everyone who worked relentlessly to put High Seas protection at the heart of the global environmental agenda. Our deepest thanks go to the countries that stepped up and showed true political leadership of getting towards the first 60 to ratify the Treaty. While many international agreements take years to enter into force, the action here in Nice today is a testament to the global momentum and urgency of action for the ocean. With just 11 more ratifications needed for entry into force, it could be just a matter of weeks before the 60 is achieved.”

Covering nearly half the planet, the High Seas–the international waters that lie beyond countries’ maritime borders–are woefully under-protected, with only 1.5% currently safeguarded within marine protected areas. The robust measures under the Treaty will be vital for achieving international agreements including Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, both of which are a key focus for the conference.

“The UN Ocean Conference is a critical milestone to sustain and build on the high-level political momentum and public support for the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement as soon as possible.  We have made tremendous progress but must continue to push for a high number of ratifications, well beyond the 60 ratifications needed to bring the Agreement into force. Broad participation will ensure greater global buy-in and give the Agreement real power and effectiveness, “ said Rena Lee, Ambassador for International Law, Singapore.

Earlier in the day, a High-Level event “Celebrating High Seas Action”, co-organised by High Seas Alliance and partners brought together government and Indigenous leaders, international organisations, civil society, philanthropy, scientists and youth to spotlight efforts to advance the High Seas agenda.  Many government leaders announced imminent ratification plans. A key highlight was the relaunch of the High Ambition Coalition of governments for BBNJ,  co-chaired by Palau, Seychelles and the European Union, aimed at accelerating Treaty ratification and implementation.

“The EU is proud to have ratified the BBNJ and it calls, jointly with Palau and Seychelles, all countries to join the High Ambition Coalition on BBNJ to support its ambitious implementation. The EU also stands with its partners to implement the BBNJ, including through the 40 million Global Ocean Programme” said Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries.

The Minderoo Foundation announced a AUD 10 million (approximately USD 6.5 million) pledge to accelerate the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the high seas. This commitment adds to the USD 51.7 million already committed in a joint donor pledge at CBD COP16 last year – bringing the total amount committed by 12 funders to kickstart the development of MPAs on the high seas to USD 58.2 million, the largest amount ever committed to high seas conservation. To help accelerate the creation of MPAs under the High Seas Treaty, Bloomberg Ocean Initiative announced it will fund a Secretariat for the BBNJ First Movers, a government collaborative committed to fast-tracking the creation of high seas MPAs in priority biodiversity hotspots. The functions of the Secretariat will be carried out by the National Resources Defence Council.

“Minderoo Foundation’s pledge sends a clear message that planning for marine protected areas in the high seas needs to start immediately if we are to make meaningful progress towards 30×30,” Minderoo Foundation founder Dr Andrew Forrest AO said. “We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our 11 fellow philanthropies in this important pledge to fast-track the establishment of marine protected areas outside of national waters. Now it’s time for nations to do their part and accelerate their ratification of the High Seas Treaty.”

“Protecting the high seas is essential to advancing the 30×30 goal and safeguarding the health of the ocean,” said Melissa Wright, who leads the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The surge of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty marks historic progress, and Bloomberg Philanthropies is proud to support the creation of a Secretariat for the BBNJ First Movers to advance the first wave of high quality MPA proposals and accelerate global action to protect our ocean.”