The High Seas Alliance reports that the High Seas Treaty has reached 100 parties after Germany, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Canada, Australia and Brunei Darussalam deposited instruments of ratification at the United Nations General Assembly. The milestone arrives almost a year after the agreement passed the 60-ratification threshold required for entry into force, which occurred on 17 January 2026. Covering areas beyond national jurisdiction, the treaty provides a legal framework intended to protect ocean life across nearly half of the planet’s surface. Attention now turns to the first Conference of the Parties, scheduled for January 2027, where participating countries will begin establishing the institutions and rules needed to put the agreement into operation.

A Global Ocean Agreement

Known formally as the BBNJ Agreement, the High Seas Treaty was agreed following almost two decades of discussion and negotiation. Its scope includes areas beyond national jurisdiction, covering both the water column and the seafloor. The agreement is positioned as a response to interconnected pressures facing the ocean, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

The 100-party mark signals broad geographic participation, with members spanning every region and including maritime powers, small island big ocean states, developed and developing countries, and several landlocked nations. This breadth matters because the High Seas sit beyond the authority of any single coastal state, making international participation central to effective governance.

For the High Seas Alliance, the agreement provides an important route towards more coordinated action for ocean protection. Its next phase will determine how its provisions translate into decisions on protected areas, environmental assessment and participation in the governance process.

Implementation Takes Centre Stage

COP1 will focus on the institutional setup and operating rules intended to support the treaty’s long-term delivery. Among the priorities will be establishing highly and fully protected Marine Protected Areas, alongside rigorous standards for environmental impact assessments. These mechanisms will be central to decisions about activity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The treaty’s entry into force has shifted the conversation from negotiation to implementation. While 100 parties represents a substantial base of support, only ratifying countries can vote and shape the agreement’s decisions. Continued ratification will affect both the treaty’s legitimacy and the diversity of countries represented as the rules are established.

Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, said:

“In many cultures, the number 100 carries real weight- whether it is a marker for age, an anniversary, or a symbol of luck and prosperity. For the High Seas Treaty, it marks the real momentum of the world uniting around ocean protection, even in divided times. But we cannot stop here,”

Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, said:

“We need more countries to ratify to achieve equitable global ocean protection by 2030. Parties need to show up ready to engage at COP1 so this wave of support turns into real decisions, not just symbolism. How countries engage in this first critical meeting will set the tone for every COP that follows, and too much is on the line to get this wrong.”

National Ratifications Add Weight

The latest ratifications bring a varied group of countries into the treaty framework. Australia and Canada add major maritime nations, while Papua New Guinea and Brunei Darussalam add further support from the Asia-Pacific region. Zimbabwe’s ratification also reinforces the release’s central point that high seas protection is a global concern, rather than one reserved for countries with coastlines.

Australia’s participation has prompted calls for ambitious action on ocean sanctuaries in the region. The country’s formal ratification gives it the ability to take part in decisions at COP1, including those concerning future high seas Marine Protected Areas.

Elle Lawless, Senior Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:

“Australia’s formal ratification of the High Seas Treaty is a historic moment we can be deeply proud of, but now we need to turn this landmark agreement into real protection for the ocean. The ocean is under mounting pressure from destructive industrial fishing, including longlining and bottom trawling. Vast, robust ocean sanctuaries offer a crucial solution, giving whales, turtles, seabirds and other ocean wildlife a safe blue haven to recover and thrive. We’re calling on the Australian government to lead with ambition, science and collaboration by championing multiple high seas ocean sanctuaries in our region, starting with a large sanctuary in the Tasman Sea between Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.”

A Seat At The Table

Canada’s ratification builds on its involvement in the treaty process and gives the country a formal role in shaping its early implementation. The first Conference of the Parties will provide a venue for countries to agree operational arrangements, while the release also points to the importance of participation by developing countries, Indigenous peoples, stakeholders and rights-holders.

Susanna Fuller, Vice President, Conservation and Projects at Oceans North, said:

“Canada’s ratification marks an important milestone in its many contributions to the Treaty process, as well as to ocean governance on a national and international scale. Now that Canada has ratified, it has an opportunity to continue its commitment to multilateral action over the coming months through the First Conference of the Parties and as the host of the 12th Our Ocean Conference. We look forward to seeing further demonstrations of ambitious leadership, including support for the participation of developing countries and Indigenous peoples, consultation with stakeholders and rights-holders, and next steps to identify the first generation of high seas marine protected areas.”

From Ratification To Protection

Germany’s ratification arrives alongside its adoption of comprehensive national legislation, according to the release. The country is expected to bring experience as a maritime nation to the first COP, as parties work through the practical requirements of a treaty designed to protect marine ecosystems far beyond national waters.

Fabienne McLellan, Managing Director at OceanCare, said:

“We congratulate Germany on formally becoming a Party to the BBNJ Agreement. As a maritime nation, Germany has been a leading voice for this landmark treaty, and we greatly welcome its continued commitment to advancing implementation, including through the adoption of comprehensive national legislation. Having this legislation in place early demonstrates Germany’s leadership and ensures it is ready to deliver on the Agreement from day one. The ocean is facing mounting pressure from climate change, plastic pollution, underwater noise, biodiversity loss and a growing range of human activities. As we look towards the first Conference of the Parties in January 2027, we hope Germany will continue to lead and help turn the BBNJ Agreement from a landmark treaty into real and lasting protection for the ocean and the marine life it sustains,”

With 100 parties now signed up, the High Seas Treaty has established a strong platform for its first implementation conference. The crucial test will be whether COP1 can convert this diplomatic momentum into robust operating rules, inclusive participation and meaningful protection for marine life in international waters.