Historic Treaty Now Protects 60% of Earth's Ocean

For the first time in history, the world has agreed to protect the vast open ocean that belongs to no single nation.

The UN's Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty entered into force in January 2026, creating a unified framework to conserve marine life across 60% of the ocean. That's more than 40% of Earth's entire surface now covered by coordinated protection rules.

Until now, the high seas operated under a patchwork of conflicting regulations. Fishing fleets, shipping routes, and mineral exploration expanded faster than anyone could manage them. Less than 1.5% of international waters had any formal protection.

The new treaty changes that equation entirely. It establishes a process for creating marine protected areas far from any coastline, requires environmental reviews before new activities begin, and ensures countries share both the benefits and responsibilities of ocean resources.

The agreement also commits wealthy nations to help smaller countries participate meaningfully. Technology transfer and capacity building are written directly into the framework, recognizing that ocean health requires every nation at the table.

The Ripple Effect

This treaty arrives when ocean ecosystems need it most. Deep sea trenches and underwater mountains regulate nutrient cycles that feed marine food webs worldwide. These same systems store massive amounts of carbon, helping stabilize our climate.

Scientists have long understood the threats facing these ecosystems. Overfishing has collapsed some species entirely. Industrial shipping introduces noise pollution that disrupts whale migration. Interest in deep sea mining has accelerated even as researchers warn we barely understand what lives down there.

The breakthrough isn't just having rules on paper. It's that 100-plus nations agreed that ocean biodiversity matters as much as economic activity. The treaty doesn't replace existing maritime organizations, but it finally puts conservation at the center of how we think about international waters.

Real implementation will unfold over years as countries build the monitoring systems and enforcement mechanisms the treaty envisions. Satellite technology already makes it harder for harmful activities to hide in the vast ocean. Now there's a legal framework to back up what the satellites see.

The open ocean once seemed too large to harm and too remote to manage. Today we know better, and for the first time, we're acting like it.