UN Global Treaty on Ocean Conservation Takes Effect

The treaty’s bodies and decision-making processes are currently being shaped by the UN Preparatory Commission.

This photograph shows the sky during sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea, off the Italian coasts on Jan. 3, 2026. Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images

The High Seas Treaty, a global initiative to protect the world’s oceans, came into effect on Jan. 17.

The United Nations treaty seeks to govern nearly half the planet’s surface, the high seas which lie beyond borders, and two-thirds of the world’s ocean. It’s a first-of-its-kind framework meant to safeguard biodiversity in international waters and ensure nations around the globe share its benefits and resources fairly.