UN Urges High Seas Treaty Ratification

The UN urges countries to move toward the ratification of the High Seas Treaty to enforce its regulations, aiming to put 30% of international waters into marine protected areas (MPAs). UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of some countries' intentions to enter into deep-sea mining, saying that the seabed “cannot become the wild west.” 

During the opening ceremony of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) 2025 in Nice, France, Guterres' words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, a co-host of the conference, who stated that the oceans are not for sale. The remarks appear to refer to US President Donald Trump’s decision in April  2025 to begin issuing permits for the extraction of critical minerals from the seabed in international waters. Marcon also referred to the US withdrawal from environmental treaties and halt in funding for environmentally related projects. “Unfortunately, if we are more or less clear-headed, we are at a time when international science, which still depends a lot on US funding, is withdrawing this funding, where we have a lot of people who are questioning multilateralism and these agencies,” Macron said.

Marine scientists have expressed concern about the potential harm deep-sea mining could cause to fragile ecosystems. Last week, over 2,000 scientists recommended a halt to deep-sea exploration until further research on its impacts can be conducted. More than 30 countries support a moratorium on the practice, but the United States has not reversed its executive order.

UNOCS 2025 aims to accelerate action to preserve and sustainably use the ocean. "This summit must be remembered as the time when the world understood that looking after the ocean is not simply an option. Rather, it is a moral, economic, and indeed, we need minimum protection," stated Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chávez Robles.

One of UNOC’s goals is to secure the 60 ratifications needed to bring the High Seas Treaty into force. The agreement, made two years ago, aims to place 30% of international waters into MPAs by 2030. Macron announced that 15 additional countries had ratified the treaty, bringing the total to 47. The UK is among the countries that has not yet ratified the agreement.

Beyond advancing the treaty’s ratifications, discussions will cover sustainable fisheries to end illegal practices and rebuild fish stocks. Other topics include accelerating the decarbonization of maritime transport, generating momentum to tackle plastic pollution, and unlocking new financing for coastal resilience and sustainable blue economies. A consistent theme is the importance of evidence-based policymaking, integrating cutting-edge research and Indigenous knowledge into ocean governance