Following the 60th ratification of the United Nations High Seas Treaty, actor and activist Sigourney Weaver joined French President Emmanuel Macron, along with heads of state from Chile, Ireland, Luxembourg and Guinea Bissau, ministers and ocean leaders from civil society and philanthropy in celebrating its imminent entry into force and a new era of international ocean governance.
The celebration, attended by high-level representatives from countries that have ratified the treaty or plan to shortly, took place during high-level event ‘From Nice to New York: Activating the High Seas Treaty!’, on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
This event was co-hosted by the governments of Belgium, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Chile, France, the European Union and Palau in partnership with civil society and philanthropy, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, the High Seas Alliance, Arcadia, Blue Nature Alliance, Blue Marine Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, Oceans5, Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.
“The High Seas Treaty shines as a beacon of hope, for the ocean, for multilateralism, and for our collective commitment to science, the rule of law, transparency and inclusiveness. As we mark this historic milestone, we must also look ahead to ensure we can turn the words of the treaty into action on the water.” Weaver said in a statement.
During their speeches both President Macron and President Boric from Chile emphasised that entry into force of the treaty is just the beginning, and that implementation is when the real work begins to make change on the water.
Earlier in the day a further six countries deposited their ratification in New York bringing the total number of ratifications to 69, including the European Union.
The treaty will become international law on 17 January 2026. Under it, the first Conference of the Parties (CoP) must convene within a year of entry into force, likely towards the end of 2026.
“The High Seas Treaty’s entry into force is a landmark milestone in the Race for Ratification. As we turn the corner in international ocean governance and speed towards the treaty’s first Conference of Parties, governments must keep their foot on the accelerator. The bold leadership we’ve witnessed in this room of leaders today must continue tomorrow, inspiring more countries from all regions to ratify and ensuring the treaty becomes a truly global engine for effective ocean protection,” High Seas Alliance Director Rebecca Hubbard commented.
The treaty is the first legally binding international agreement safeguarding marine life in an area covering nearly half the planet and two-thirds of the ocean. It provides new tools to halt biodiversity loss and ocean degradation such as creating marine protected areas (MPAs). It also requires environmental impact assessments to mitigate harmful human activities.
Antha Williams, who leads the Environment programme at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “The High Seas Treaty is one of the most important conservation achievements of our time. For the first time, countries have committed to safeguarding nearly half of our planet – waters that sustain extraordinary biodiversity and play a vital role in the fight against climate change. This milestone shows what’s possible when governments, civil society, and philanthropy work together with urgency and determination.”
Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Founder of Minderoo Foundation, stated that the treaty is the “legal engine that makes the global 30x30 ocean protection target possible”, calling it a “once-in-several-generation opportunity” to protect the vast amount of ocean that lies in international waters.
“We must act swiftly and decisively to turn this agreement into real protections before irreversible damage is done to our ocean. That is why Minderoo Foundation is providing AUD 4.25 million to accelerate the swift and science-based implementation of the treaty. Together, we must raise awareness, build coalitions, and advocate for strong protections. We are at a critical juncture where bold action, backed by science and collaboration, is urgently needed to protect our ocean’s most vulnerable and least governed spaces. This initiative is about turning global commitments into real protections – before it’s too late,” he said.
