The official status of signatures and ratifications can be found on the UN website and the High Seas Alliance’s ratification tracker. Note: The number shown on the High Seas Alliance tracker reflects only the ratifications that count toward entry into force and does not include the EU’s ratification and therefore differs from the UN’s total count.

The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes uses the term “High Seas Treaty“ as a short-hand for the BBNJ Agreement. HSA acknowledges that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement encompasses all Areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column. This choice of wording is intended to ease understanding for broad audiences and does not convey a prioritization among the components or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.

HSA Members Organizations Quotes:

“Hope for the High Seas is becoming a reality, and with it, hope for an enduring future for humankind.” – Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue 

“This is a milestone in ending irresponsible overfishing and advancing global marine conservation.” – Dr. Sandra Altherr, Pro Wildlife 

“During this difficult time in international affairs this is an important achievement which shows that multilateralism is still alive and that the international community can still come together to achieve great things” – Russ Feingold, former United States Senator and Chair, Campaign for Nature Global Steering Committee.

“The entry into force is a turning point for the ocean and its biodiversity on which we all depend. Now we need to achieve universal ratification of this landmark treaty.” – Duncan Currie, international legal adviser, High Seas Alliance

“We salute all the work that has gone into getting this Treaty ratified. It means the  Ocean is getting the protection it deserves and shows what we can achieve if we choose to act for the common good.” – Inge Relph, Executive Director, GlobalChoices

“This rapid entry into force proves the political will exists to safeguard the high seas. We must now harness this momentum to build a truly robust and inclusive global ocean governance system.” – Audrey Underhill, ADM Capital Foundation

“It’s inspiring to see the BBNJ Agreement reach 60 ratifications and officially trigger entry into force. This milestone is a powerful reminder of what the global community can achieve when we come together to protect our ocean. By safeguarding biodiversity in the high seas, the agreement gives us new hope for healthier oceans, stronger cooperation, and a brighter future for people and nature alike.” – Grace Reville, High Seas Lead, Blue Nature Alliance

“The High Seas Treaty reaching 60 ratifications is a landmark moment. It shows the power of multilateralism and optimism, of nations working together to solve the challenges we face together. Now we must turn words into action: truly protected marine areas, an end to destructive, illegal and unsustainable fishing, and a brighter future for people, wildlife and our shared natural world.” – Steve Trent, CEO and Founder, Environmental Justice Foundation 

“This milestone gives us the collective power to safeguard ocean biodiversity beyond national borders, where it’s been most vulnerable.” – Emilia Michael, Advocacy Director and General Counsel, Action for Dolphins

“The ratification of the United Nations High Seas Treaty marks a historic victory for our ocean and our shared future. This achievement is the result of decades of tireless work by the ocean conservation community, government champions, and young leaders who demanded action. At EarthEcho, we celebrate this moment as proof of what is possible when generations come together to protect our ocean planet, while recognizing the important work ahead to achieve universal ratification and the creation of the first high seas marine protected areas.” – Philippe Cousteau, Founder, EarthEcho International

“People from science; youth activism; NGOs; the Arts; academia; the civil service; the public and politics made this happen and showed that the world can still act to protect our planet. Now we must implement the Treaty on the water.” – Mirella von Lindenfels, Director, The International Programme on the State of the Ocean.

“It is a tremendous achievement to see the High Seas Treaty ratified, after 20 years of negotiations to reach an Agreement. To everyone who has fought for this, we celebrate your efforts and stand with you as the work to implement the Treaty begins. This is a landmark example of global ocean policy driven by diverse voices, from landlocked states to big ocean states and when people ask what humanity has done for the ocean and for equitable, just stewardship of global resources – we now have an answer.” – Flora McMorrin, Director, RISE UP

“World governments have accomplished a major milestone for the high seas, paving the way for the BBNJ Agreement to enter into force. Over two decades in the making, this historic achievement demonstrates the global community’s bold ambition to swiftly implement the treaty and secure benefits for marine life and people worldwide.” — Nichola Clark, senior officer on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ ocean governance team

“The BBNJ is a landmark moment in ocean protection and a significant step by the global community in safeguarding the high seas. But ratification is only the beginning — the hard work starts now. Bold action must be built on transparency, with public data and open information holding all parties to account. This is crucial to ensuring governments, industry and conservationists work together to protect our most vulnerable marine species and manage our shared ocean sustainably.” – Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing Watch

“The ratification of the High Seas Treaty means safeguarding our shared ocean from destructive human activities and the climate crisis, but also protecting the lives and wellbeing of billions of people worldwide. With this landmark agreement, governments have the opportunity to turn commitments into action for the benefit of both nature and humanity.” – Ioannis Giovos, Conservation officer, iSea 

“The entry into force of the BBNJ Treaty is a historic victory for our planet. It marks a new era for ocean governance, where the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas and its ocean seabed are no longer an aspiration, but a legally binding commitment for all nations. The work, however, is just beginning. To realize the full promise of this treaty, we must now prioritize its effective and equitable implementation, translating this shared agreement into concrete action that safeguards the natural capital of our ocean for generations to come.” – Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation

“From Latin America, we celebrate the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, as a global milestone that brings us one step closer to building a more sustainable, equitable and fair ocean governance. AIDA also recognizes the fundamental role of the Latin American ocean champions who have ratified the Agreement, along with the participation of the whole region, from the negotiations to its entry into force. We will continue working with governments, civil society organizations, academia, Indigenous Peoples and local communities towards the effective implementation of this instrument that seeks to protect our very future.”. – María José González-Bernat, Director of the Oceans Program, Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)

(Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense, en inglés).

“The entry into force of the High Seas Treaty is a crucial milestone that demonstrates effective global cooperation on the protection of this common heritage of humankind for present and future generations. Parliamentarians have, and will continue to play, an increasingly key role in the operationalization of this Treaty. In partnership with legislators and colleagues at all levels of advocacy and policy-making, we are excited to keep this momentum going for global action and local impact.” – Mónica Adame, Secretary-General, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA)

“We are delighted that the BBNJ Treaty has now reached 60 ratifications. This is a historic moment in ocean conservation, creating a framework for the effective delivery of high seas MPAs. This agreement will help safeguard marine biodiversity, strengthen ocean governance, build climate resilience, and ensure that resources on the high seas are managed fairly and equitably for the benefit of all nations and future generations” – Dr Judith Brown, Projects Director, Blue Marine Foundation

“Today marks a historic achievement for the ocean — with 60 ratifications, the High Seas Treaty will now come into force. This demonstrates global commitment for the protection of this shared ecosystem, which is so vital for our existence. The real work starts now. At BirdLife International we stand ready to provide the science, tools and local-to-global action needed to build and implement a strong and effective High Seas Treaty.  We call on governments and all stakeholders to join us in turning this promise into lasting protection for birds, the ocean and all life it sustains.” – Nina Mikander, Global Director of Policy and Business, BirdLife International.

Oceans North, alongside fellow members of the High Seas Alliance, celebrates a major milestone in bringing the High Seas Treaty to life.  “Canada has a vital role to play in advancing this treaty and ensuring our ocean continues to sustain future generations,” – says Susanna Fuller, VP of Conservation and Projects at Oceans North. With three international ocean basins bordering Canadian waters, the country is uniquely positioned to lead the creation of high seas marine protected areas—especially in regions adjacent to its already protected zones: “By ratifying the treaty before it enters into force in January 2026, Canada can join the global effort to close ocean governance gaps and help safeguard critical high seas ecosystems.”

“Reaching 60 ratifications for the BBNJ Treaty is a testament to the power of collaboration in our shared mission to protect the high seas. This treaty embodies our collective commitment to safeguarding marine biodiversity and fostering sustainable use. As we celebrate this significant milestone, let us strengthen our partnerships and continue to work together, ensuring that the principles of cooperation and ocean stewardship shape our actions for our one ocean and for our future generations.” – Minna Epps, IUCN Global Ocean Policy Director

“The reach of the historic milestone of 60 ratifications is a remarkable landmark that will clearly show the unity of the countries on issues of importance on the global and the regional levels for the current and the future generations with the right governance of our Oceans. In the MENA region, we have used all our contacts and efforts to reach the decision makers to highlight the importance of the High Seas and its positives. In the process we faced some hurdles, politics played a role both ways for some countries, and the overall benefit from adopting this treaty was clearly simplified to get the message across. Some of the countries were not clearly involved due to their own situation. Nevertheless, attention was clearly drawn to how this protection and management will lead to benefit the livelihood of people and the marine wildlife all over the world.” – Nabegh Ghazal Asswad, Programs Manager, on behalf of the Policy Team, International Fund for Animal Welfare. 

“Sixty ratifications mark a once-in-a-generation achievement for global ocean governance and a moment to celebrate. Countries across the globe have shown real leadership by committing to protect nearly half our planet, the ocean beyond national jurisdiction. But this milestone is only the start, and we urge many more countries to ratify. The true measure of success of the BBNJ Agreement will be its implementation. Successful implementation depends on keeping conservation front and centre, with the protection of the ocean guiding every step. As the Preparatory Commission process advances, governments must come together to build the institutions and processes that will turn this historic agreement into lasting protection for marine biodiversity and a more equitable future for the high seas.” – Fabienne McLellan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at OceanCare.

“The health of the High Seas is critical to our own, yet this vast area faces increasing pressures from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and now the looming threat of deep-sea mining. The much-awaited milestone of 60 ratifications of the BBNJ Treaty is truly welcome news, as it means the agreements to protect our shared ocean can finally enter into force. Now governments must ensure their commitments turn into action. When it comes to the ocean and our shared heritage, we have no more time to lose.” – Farah Obaidullah, Founder and Director, The Ocean and Us 

“This is a major win for our oceans and all of us who depend on them. The high seas belong both to no one and to all of us. Beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation, these waters cover more of the planet than any other ecosystem and yet only 1 percent is protected. We have the rare chance to stop the loss of nature before we lose it forever.” – Monica Medina, Arnhold Fellow at Conservation International and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs 

“Reaching 60 ratifications of the BBNJ Agreement is a milestone for our planet — a moment to pause, recognize the multilateralism that brought us here, and celebrate what is now possible for the protection of the high seas. This Agreement opens the door to creating marine protected areas beyond national jurisdictions, potentially safeguarding extraordinary ecosystems such as the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges. Now, we must carry this momentum forward to ensure these benefits are realized for both people and nature.” – Haydée Rodriguez, Director of the Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition 

“The entry into force of the BBNJ Treaty is a historic victory for our planet. It marks a new era for ocean governance, where the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas and its ocean seabed are no longer an aspiration, but a legally binding commitment for all nations. The work, however, is just beginning. To realize the full promise of this treaty, we must now prioritize its effective and equitable implementation, translating this shared agreement into concrete action that safeguards the natural capital of our ocean for generations to come.” – Tiago Pitta e Cunha, CEO, Oceano Azul Foundation 

“For the Caribbean and the wider Global South, the ratification of the High Seas Treaty is more than a diplomatic milestone. Our communities already experience the impacts of climate change and ocean degradation, and we depend directly on healthy marine ecosystems for food security, livelihoods, and cultural identity. Achieving 60 ratifications shows that international cooperation can deliver results, but the true test lies ahead in implementation. Equity must guide every step, from financing and capacity building to technology transfer and transparent decision-making. We are confident that this Agreement will deliver on its promise of real protection on the water, fair access to resources, and resilience for the most vulnerable. Today we celebrate, and tomorrow the work begins to transform this treaty into lasting action for people, nature, and our shared future.” – Leneka Rhoden, Caribbean Regional Coordinator, High Seas Alliance 

“Reaching 60 ratifications of the High Seas Treaty means it will now become international law – a historic victory for the governance of the high seas, and protection of the marine life that depends on them. Canada has been instrumental in advancing the treaty, and we must continue to claim our role as a champion for the ocean by ratifying the treaty before it enters into force in January 2026.” – Stephanie Hewson, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law Association

“The ratification of the High Seas Treaty is not merely a milestone—it is a defining moment for the future of all life on earth. Protecting our planet hinges on binding protections of international waters — without them, global 30×30 targets slip beyond reach.” said Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “We commend the nations that have led with conviction, and we call on others to act without delay. The Nature Conservancy is proud to advance this effort through science-based policy, innovative finance, and community-led conservation and is committed to transforming this historic agreement into meaningful action.” 

Oceana’s Chief Scientist Dr. Katie Matthews says, “For too long, the high seas have been a Wild West — lacking comprehensive oversight. The ratification of the High Seas Treaty will help bring order. For the first time, we have the legal foundation to safeguard marine diversity in waters that belong to everyone and no one at the same time. What matters now is turning paper into protection. Nations must move quickly from ratification to real-world implementation. If world leaders are serious about protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, that requires ambitious action on the high seas. The health of our oceans, and the billions of people who rely on them for food, livelihoods, and climate stability, depends on what comes next.”