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The High Seas Treaty, at last.
Kirsten Grorud-Colvert1, Jenna Sullivan-Stack2
1Kirsten Grorud-Colvert is an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 15, 2026
Summary
The United Nations Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, or High Seas Treaty, is enacted to protect ocean biodiversity. This landmark treaty establishes marine protected areas in international waters, safeguarding marine life and ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- International Environmental Law
- Oceanography
Background:
- The high seas, covering over half the Earth's surface and two-thirds of its oceans, harbor rich biodiversity including megafauna, deep-sea corals, and sponges.
- Historically, high seas management has been dominated by commercial interests like shipping, fishing, and resource exploration, leading to inadequate protection for marine ecosystems.
- Over two decades of negotiations culminated in the High Seas Treaty, also known as the United Nations (UN) Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.
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