The Future of the Ocean Depends on the High Seas Treaty: Who Has Signed, and Who Hasn’t?

One of the most talked-about issues during the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice was the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the BBNJ Treaty (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction). While its name might sound technical, its purpose is monumental: this agreement could transform the way humanity protects the oceans beyond national borders.

Andy Schmid, UN World Oceans Day 2023 photo competition / Andy Schmid

What Is the High Seas Treaty?

Adopted in 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiation at the United Nations, the BBNJ Treaty aims to establish a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of international waters—those parts of the ocean that do not belong to any single country, but make up more than 60% of the marine surface of the planet.

Until now, these vast areas have been largely unregulated. Activities such as industrial fishing, deep-sea mining, and genetic bioprospecting have taken place with minimal oversight. The treaty seeks to change that by:

Creating marine protected areas in the high seas
Requiring environmental impact assessments for human activities
Establishing a system to share the benefits of marine genetic resources
Defining global standards for scientific research and resource use

✍️ Who Has Signed and Ratified It?

As of mid-2025, more than 80 countries have signed the BBNJ Treaty, including Costa Rica, France, Germany, Spain, Chile, and Palau. However, only 22 countries have ratified it, and at least 60 ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force.

Major global players like:

The United States
Canada
China
Japan

have not ratified the treaty yet, creating a significant delay in its implementation. Many of the companies operating in high seas industries are based in these countries, making their ratification essential for meaningful change.

Costa Rica: An Early Champion of the Treaty

Costa Rica was among the first countries to ratify the treaty and has actively encouraged others to do the same. At the conference in Nice, Costa Rica’s representatives made a strong appeal to the international community:

“We cannot claim to protect the ocean if we leave more than half of it without any rules.”

This message was well received by scientists, civil society, and small island nations, who see Costa Rica as a credible environmental leader without conflicting economic interests in the high seas.

What Will It Take to Make It Work?

Even once the treaty is ratified, much work remains. Countries will need to:

Build systems for monitoring and enforcement
Provide funding and technical support to developing countries
Coordinate science-based marine protection plans
Enforce penalties for violations
Ensure transparent decision-making and international participation

Though it sounds like a diplomatic matter, the treaty has real-world consequences. It determines whether the oceans of the future will be alive and thriving, or empty and polluted.

A Necessary Step for a Sustainable Ocean

The High Seas Treaty won’t solve every ocean problem, but it lays the foundation for a more just and coordinated system of ocean governance. It’s the first serious attempt to bring law and protection to the vast “no-man’s-sea” that covers over half of our planet.

Costa Rica understands this deeply. Its early ratification and strong diplomatic voice in Nice show that moral leadership matters, even for a small country. When it comes to defending the ocean, size doesn’t matter—commitment does.