Emily Stangel, Collections Assistant and Dan Distel, Director
March 17, 2026
The high seas once lacked environmental protections against overfishing, habitat destruction, and unregulated extraction of minerals and genetic resources. But they are now moving toward a safer future—thanks to the High Seas Treaty.
The U.N. High Seas Treaty officially entered into force on January 17, 2026, marking a major milestone for global ocean protection. Also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement, this treaty, for the first time, recognizes that maintaining ocean health is a shared responsibility of all humankind.
What is the High Seas Treaty?
The High Seas Treaty provides the first comprehensive international framework to preserve marine biodiversity and promote sustainable use of ocean resources. It also ensures the fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic materials in international waters, which comprise approximately 60 percent of the world’s ocean.
Notably, the High Seas Treaty enables nations to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in biodiversity-rich regions that span international waters. Until now, MPAs have been largely limited to areas within national jurisdictions, even though biodiversity does not adhere to political boundaries. By extending protection beyond national waters, the treaty allows policymakers to designate MPAs that, for example, follow the migration routes of species such as whales and tuna, and that protect entire undersea mountain chains and deep-sea ecosystems that span both national and international waters.
Why does the High Seas Treaty Matter?
The Earth’s oceans directly and indirectly sustain life by sequestering carbon dioxide, producing oxygen, regulating climate, and supporting livelihoods. Yet, until now, only 1 percent of the high seas have been actively protected. The treaty alters this by allowing MPAs that are guided by ecological priorities rather than political boundaries.
Importantly, the High Seas Treaty will also subject new ocean-based industries, such as deep-sea mining and geoengineering projects, to stricter environmental assessment standards before operations begin, thereby conserving deep-sea and open-ocean ecosystems.
What Does This Mean for OGL?
The high seas contain a vast wealth of genetic resources, including the DNA of microbes, plants, and animals, which hold tremendous potential for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food production, and other innovations. The High Seas Treaty helps strengthen protections for the ocean’s rich genomic diversity, while ensuring that benefits derived from these resources are shared more equitably among nations and peoples. OGL is committed to upholding the letter and spirit of this ambitious effort in all our actions and operations.
To learn more about the High Seas Treaty, click here: High Seas Treaty. Want to help OGL study and protect the ocean’s biodiversity? Support OGL here.