**Multinational Treaty to Protect Vast Expanses of the World’s Oceans Set to Become Law in January 2026**
*United Nations* — A groundbreaking multinational treaty aimed at protecting vast expanses of the world’s oceans is finally set to become law in January 2026. Environmentalists hailed the announcement made this Friday as a crucial step toward safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems.
The move by Morocco and Sierra Leone to join the UN treaty on the high seas pushed the number of ratifications past the required threshold of 60, enabling the treaty to be enacted as international law.
### Protecting Valuable, Fragile Marine Areas
The treaty seeks to protect biodiverse areas in international waters—those beyond countries’ exclusive economic zones. These high seas, covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, are teeming with plant and animal life vital to the planet’s health.
Conservationists emphasize the oceans’ critical role in creating half of the globe’s oxygen supply and combating climate change by absorbing a significant portion of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activities.
Despite their importance, these waters face multiple threats, including pollution, overfishing, and the emerging challenges posed by deep-sea mining. This new industry is exploring previously untouched seabeds for valuable minerals such as nickel, cobalt, and copper.
### Binding Rules to Conserve Marine Biodiversity
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity.”
Currently, only about one percent of high seas waters have legal protections. The new treaty aims to change that by establishing comprehensive safeguards for roughly 60 percent of the world’s oceans that lie outside any national jurisdiction.
The treaty is expected to take effect in 120 days. However, Lisa Speer, director of the International Oceans Program at the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council, noted that it may take until late 2028 or 2029 before the first marine protected areas are officially established.
### Coordinated Global Efforts and Ongoing Challenges
Once the treaty is in force, a dedicated decision-making body will collaborate with existing regional and global organizations that oversee various ocean activities. These include regional fisheries bodies and the International Seabed Authority—a key forum where nations are negotiating rules for the deep-sea mining industry.
While no commercial mining licenses have yet been issued for high seas waters, some countries have begun or are preparing to explore mineral resources within their own exclusive economic zones.
The treaty also introduces principles for sharing the benefits derived from marine genetic resources collected in international waters. This issue had been a major sticking point during years of complex negotiations.
Developing countries, which often lack funding for research expeditions, advocated strongly for fair benefit-sharing to avoid being sidelined in what is considered a lucrative future market, particularly for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
### Toward Global Ratification
As of mid-September, 143 countries had joined the treaty. Ocean conservationists are now urging more nations to ratify it to ensure the treaty’s effectiveness.
Rebecca Hubbard, head of the High Seas Alliance coalition, stressed, “It’s really important that we move towards global or universal ratification for the treaty to be as effective as possible.” She encouraged small island states, developing countries, and even landlocked nations to participate.
### Potential Obstacles
Ratification efforts may face resistance from major maritime and industrial powers. For instance, Russia has neither signed nor ratified the treaty, citing objections to certain provisions. Meanwhile, the United States signed the treaty under President Joe Biden, but it remains unlikely that the administration under former President Donald Trump would seek to ratify it.
### Conclusion
The enactment of this treaty marks a significant leap toward the sustainable and equitable management of the world’s oceans. Protecting the high seas is essential not only for marine biodiversity but also for the health and well-being of the global community.
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