New Ocean Treaty Protects Sharks Across All Borders

Sharks and rays have always ignored the invisible lines humans draw on maps, swimming freely across national borders into unprotected international waters where they become vulnerable to fishing and habitat loss. Now, for the first time in history, a new treaty ensures these ocean travelers stay safe no matter where they roam.

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, known as the High Seas Treaty, officially took effect in January. Scientists and conservationists gathering at Sharks International 2026 in Sri Lanka celebrated the landmark agreement as a game changer for protecting species that cross vast oceanic boundaries.

"Once these animals swim away from protected areas, they immediately become vulnerable again," said marine biologist Asha de Vos, founder of Oceanswell. The treaty tackles this problem head-on by creating a legal framework for establishing marine protected areas in international waters.

At least 38 shark species are highly migratory, traveling through multiple countries' waters and into the high seas. Many rays, including majestic mantas and devil rays, also undertake long-distance oceanic journeys where protection has historically been weak or nonexistent.

The high seas cover nearly two-thirds of the world's ocean. Until now, these vast stretches lacked comprehensive biodiversity protections, leaving migratory species exposed to industrial fishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation the moment they left national waters.

Sri Lanka became the 58th country to ratify the treaty, joining an international effort to coordinate ocean conservation. The island nation sits along major migratory routes in the Indian Ocean where threatened pelagic sharks spend much of their lives outside any single country's control.

The treaty doesn't work alone. Officials emphasized it will coordinate with existing agreements like the Convention on Migratory Species, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to create a comprehensive protection network.

Scientists point to Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) as valuable tools for identifying critical migratory routes and habitats that need protection. The treaty also requires mandatory environmental impact assessments for activities planned in the high seas.

The Ripple Effect

This treaty represents more than just shark conservation. It marks a historic shift in how humanity governs the ocean, recognizing that marine ecosystems are inherently dynamic and interconnected. When sharks and rays thrive across their full migratory ranges, entire ocean food webs benefit.

De Vos stressed that action must happen now. "The information we already have is sufficient to move forward in activities such as setting up high seas marine protected areas," she said. Waiting for perfect data means more species slip toward extinction.

For coastal communities that depend on healthy ocean ecosystems, this treaty offers hope that fish populations will remain stable and abundant for generations to come.

The world's ocean travelers finally have protection that matches their boundless journeys.