January 20, 2026 — NGOs are celebrating the entry into force of the United Nations Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), also widely known as the High Seas Treaty, after decades of work.
The High Seas Treaty officially entered into force on 17 January 2026 after crossing the ratification threshold in September 2025. The Pew Charitable Trusts said the new treaty will finally create a mechanism for the world to preserve two-thirds of the ocean lying outside national borders.