What's happened
Morocco and Sierra Leone have ratified the UN treaty on marine biodiversity, bringing the total to 143 countries. The treaty aims to protect two-thirds of the ocean from threats like overfishing and deep-sea mining. It will take effect in January 2026, establishing rules for conservation and benefit-sharing in international waters.
What's behind the headline?
The ratification of the high seas treaty marks a pivotal step in global ocean governance, yet its true impact hinges on universal adoption and effective implementation. The treaty's reliance on individual nations to enforce rules, rather than a centralized enforcement body, underscores the importance of broad ratification. Major players like the US and China have signed but not ratified, which could weaken the treaty's reach. The agreement's focus on establishing marine protected areas and sharing benefits from marine genetic resources aligns with urgent environmental needs, but the real challenge will be translating commitments into tangible protections. The ongoing debate over deep-sea mining regulation highlights the tension between economic interests and conservation. If key nations delay or oppose ratification, the treaty risks being undermined, leaving the high seas vulnerable to continued exploitation. The next steps involve establishing oversight mechanisms and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing, which will determine whether this treaty can truly safeguard marine biodiversity for future generations.
What the papers say
The articles from The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, AP News, The Independent, and The Guardian collectively emphasize the significance of the treaty's ratification, framing it as a historic milestone for ocean conservation. They highlight the broad international support, with 143 countries now onboard, and underscore the ongoing challenges posed by major nations like the US, China, Russia, and Japan, which have yet to fully ratify or oppose the treaty. The sources differ slightly in tone: The Japan Times stresses the treaty's legal and environmental importance, while Al Jazeera and The Independent focus on the geopolitical and implementation challenges. Bloomberg and AP News provide a more pragmatic view, noting the need for effective enforcement and the risks posed by non-ratifying powers. The Guardian criticizes the UK's current policies on bottom trawling, illustrating the gap between international commitments and national actions. Overall, the coverage underscores that while the treaty is a crucial step forward, its success depends on widespread ratification and effective enforcement, especially from the world's largest maritime nations.
How we got here
The treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, was negotiated over several years to address the lack of legal protections for the high seas, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean. It responds to increasing threats from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and deep-sea mining, which have caused significant harm to marine ecosystems. The treaty's adoption follows a global push for the '30x30' conservation target, aiming to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. Major nations like the US, China, Russia, and Japan have yet to ratify, raising questions about enforcement and effectiveness.
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Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, with land borders with Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to th
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over 55 countries and an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, informally Salone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea to the northeast.