For the High Seas Treaty to have an impact on the water, it must be signed and ratified by at least 60 countries. It is essential that governments accelerate the ratification process so that the Treaty can enter into force and become a legally binding international law in 2025. The speedometer will indicate progress as countries ratify the Treaty.
Below is a list of UN member states that have committed to accelerating the protection of ocean life. The European Union (as a regional economic integration organization) and the State of Palestine (as a non-member observer state) also signed the High Seas Treaty when it was opened for signature on 20 September 2023.
*The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes refers to the “High Seas Treaty” as a simplified way to discuss the BBNJ Agreement. HSA acknowledges that the BBNJ Agreement covers all areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seabed and the water column. This terminology aims to make the information more accessible to a wider audience and does not imply any preference for specific elements or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.
**The EU has deposited its instrument of ratification and is a party to the agreement. However, as a regional economic integration organization, only the ratifications of its Member States count toward the 60-state threshold required for the agreement to enter into force, in accordance with Article 68(3) of the Treaty.
