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2h ago

UN High Seas Treaty Takes Effect, Creating First Global Rules to Protect Biodiversity in International Waters

With 81 parties, decision-making now moves to a new COP, a scientific body tasked with setting procedures and financing.

A diver swims through a coral reef near the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
This is the first time this rare octopus species —informally named the Casper octopus — has been seen in the Southern Pacific. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. While little is known about this species, scientists do know that it is one of two octopuses found in the Ocean’s abyssal zone. The observation in this clip took place at 4,443 meters depth, almost three miles below the Ocean’s surface. From Dive 690, a full-depth test dive of ROV SuBastian. For this test dive, the team visited a seamount outside Peru's Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ. The seafloor feature had a distinctive disc shape and a summit close to ROV SuBastian's max depth of 4500m. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Due to our legal status as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, no media produced by Schmidt Ocean Institute may be used in attempting to influence legislation or lobbying. Additionally, all visual assets (Images, videos, etc) can only be used as stated by creative commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
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UN treaty to protect ‘extraordinary’ marine life due to come into force

Overview

  • The agreement enters into force on January 17 and covers roughly two-thirds of the ocean, establishing the first legally binding framework for conservation beyond national jurisdiction.
  • States can now propose high-seas marine protected areas, require environmental impact assessments for activities that risk harm, and implement benefit-sharing for marine genetic resources.
  • Morocco’s ratification on September 19, 2025 triggered the 120‑day countdown to activation, and 81 UN member states have now ratified, with more than 145 having signed.
  • China is a ratifier from day one, while the United States has signed but not ratified, underscoring shifting influence over high-seas governance.
  • Next steps include convening the first COP in 2026, standing up the Scientific and Technical Body, operationalizing funding streams via a special fund, a voluntary trust fund and the Global Environment Facility, and tackling enforcement and capacity gaps highlighted by persistent illegal fishing.