Signal High Seas Treaty entered into force in January 2026

Summary

Legal governance of the sea depends on the maritime zones set by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction is the Area, designated as the common heritage of humankind. The newest element of this framework is the BBNJ agreement, also called the High Seas Treaty, which took effect in January 2026. It seeks to protect marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, including the deep seabed, by allowing marine protected areas and tightening environmental impact assessment rules. The report holds, however, that its real effect will hinge on political will and concrete implementation. For the deep seabed, close cooperation with the International Seabed Authority, which oversees mineral resources, will be needed. The report counts the treaty as progress for marine biodiversity governance while noting that, as the deep-sea mining debate shows, seafloor integrity remains an unresolved frontier.