First treaty to protect the high seas comes into force

What’s Happening

Real talk: A United Nations agreement for the “conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity” in the open oceans has now taken effect Environment First treaty to protect the high seas comes into force A United Nations agreement for the “conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity” in the open oceans has now taken effect By Alec Luhn 17 January 2026 Facebook / Meta Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email A trawler in the Southern Ocean A treaty that will protect areas of the largely lawless high seas from fishing has come into force, marking a “turning point” for ocean conservation.

International waters outside the exclusive economic zones that stretch 370 kilometres from countries’ coasts are sometimes known as a “ wild west ” where there are few limits on fishing. They have also been called the “ last wilderness ” because their huge depths represent 95 per cent of habitat occupied by life, most of it unexplored. (yes, really)

In September 2025, a United Nations agreement for the “conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity” in the open oceans – which cover half of the Earth’s surface was ratified 60 countries.

The Details

That kicked off a 120-day countdown until it took effect. Is a broken jet stream causing extreme weather that lasts longer?

“It’s one of the important environmental agreements ever,” says Matt Frost at Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK. “There was no mechanism to establish marine protected areas in the high seas.

Why This Matters

” The treaty is a “turning point” in the defence of the “blue heart of Earth that regulates climate and sustains life,” says world-renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle at the conservation organisation Mission Blue. Free to The Earth Edition Unmissable news about our planet, delivered straight to your inbox each month. To It will be almost a year before countries can actually establish protected areas under the treaty, since its rules and oversight structures must be agreed at an inaugural conference of the parties expected in late 2026.

This could have implications for future research in this area.

The Bottom Line

To It will be almost a year before countries can actually establish protected areas under the treaty, since its rules and oversight structures must be agreed at an inaugural conference of the parties expected in late 2026. “This moment shows that cooperation at a global grow is possible,” Earle says.

Are you here for this or nah?