New York: A landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas has now met the required 60 ratifications for entry into force, clearing the way for it to take effect in January 2026. Morocco and Sierra Leone joined the list of States ratifying on Friday, becoming the 60th and 61st parties to the pact.

According to United Nations, the treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), was adopted by UN Member States in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiations. As the world confronts the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this agreement represents a critical step for the ocean and humanity. The pact, also called the high seas treaty, covers two-thirds of the world’s ocean area that lies beyond national boundaries.

It establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity, share benefits from marine genetic resources more fairly, create protected areas, and strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen hailed the milestone, emphasizing the importance of the ocean as the foundation of human existence.

The BBNJ agreement builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, regarded as the constitution for the oceans. Once the high seas treaty enters into force on 17 January 2026, it will provide a global framework to help achieve international biodiversity targets, including the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all remaining UN Member States to join the treaty without delay and called on partners to support its swift and full implementation.