June 13, 2025 — The biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, also referred to commonly as the High Seas Treaty, has moved closer to entering into force after 19 countries ratified the agreement during the United Nations Ocean Conference.
The High Seas Treaty is the result of a deal that was finalized in March 2023 after nearly 20 years of UN-facilitated talks. The treaty first opened for ratification in September 2023 and requires at least 60 countries to ratify the agreement in order to enter into force.