Global Ocean Treaty

The Global Ocean Treaty is one of the most important international conservation agreements in history and the first focused on conserving marine life on the High Seas.

Why do we need a Global Ocean Treaty?

Before the treaty entered into force in January 2026, the management of our global oceans was very fragmented.

Due to decades of action from people like you. There is now a legal global instrument that allows for the creation of sanctuaries in international waters. To this day, less than 1% of the high seas – the largest habitat on Earth, comprising 64% of the world’s ocean – is fully or highly protected from human activities.

But here’s the catch: Australia still hasn’t ratified. Despite being one of the first countries to sign the treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, ratification has been delayed and deprioritised. This is cutting it fine if we want to hit the global goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030.

The countdown is on, as the first ever Ocean COP under this new Treaty will take place in late 2026. This UN meeting will be a game-changer for ocean protection.

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Here’s how it works, and how together we’ll make sure world leaders get it right

From climate change and plastic pollution, to mining and overfishing, the threats facing our oceans are getting more urgent every day.

Now though, there’s a ray of hope. Scientists have drawn up a bold rescue plan for our oceans – and it’s brilliantly simple: we cover the planet in ocean sanctuaries, putting a third of the seas off-limits to fishing, mining, drilling and other destructive industries. 

If the plan goes ahead, it’ll be one of the biggest conservation efforts in human history, creating millions of square kilometres of new protected areas.

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Clearing the way for ocean sanctuaries

This is an historic turning point, but the challenge isn’t over as the ocean is still at risk.

Even with the Global Ocean Treaty now in force, the future of the high seas depends on what governments do next. For decades, the vast ocean and precious marine life that call it home were beyond protection. Now, for the first time, we have the legal framework to create large-scale ocean sanctuaries beyond national waters – but only if countries use it boldly and responsibly. As nations move from ratification to implementation, the choices made now will determine whether this treaty delivers real protection or falls short. With Ocean COP 1 approaching in 2026, governments must act with ambition, urgency and science to turn this landmark agreement into thriving ocean sanctuaries that protect marine life and our shared future.

This COP isn’t just another international meeting, it’s about writing the rules for how the high seas are protected for generations to come.

Who’s backing a strong treaty?

Countries from around the world are now backing a strong, living Global Ocean Treaty. With the treaty in force, political leaders are responding to the science and to public demand – stepping up to protect the ocean in the global interest.

Governments from the African continent, the Pacific and Caribbean islands, Latin America, China and Europe have played a critical role in shaping a treaty that allows for the creation of ocean sanctuaries in international waters, moving beyond the fragmented and failing system of regional agreements that left much of the high seas unprotected.

Now, leadership matters more than ever. As negotiations continue to turn the treaty into real protection, these countries must keep pushing for ambition and integrity in its implementation. Our role is to stand with these governments – showing there is a powerful global movement behind them, and urging them to go further, faster, to secure a healthy ocean for generations to come.

Who’s holding things up?

Some governments, like the US, New Zealand and Canada still lack vision and ambition, while Norway, Iceland, and Russia largely fall behind. We’ll be doing everything we can to make these countries step up in their ambition, and make sure their people and scientists are heard. 

Sticking to the status quo won’t bring life back to the ocean – we’ve seen over and over again that the current patchwork system we have can’t protect marine life from the multiple pressures they face today. Our oceans are in crisis and simply can’t wait while countries drag their feet.

The treaty is now in force – but the outcome is not guaranteed. As attention shifts to implementation, big fishing and mining companies are working hard to weaken key decisions and preserve the broken system that has put our blue planet at risk for decades. This is a decisive moment to counter that pressure and ensure governments stand firm and deliver the strong ocean protections the treaty was designed to achieve.

The Journey to a Global Ocean Treaty

Learn more about the Global Ocean Treaty

• 

  Why the Sargasso Sea Needs the Global Ocean Treaty

• 

  How Can the Global Ocean Treaty Protect the Emperor Seamounts?

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  Protecting the Galapagos and Beyond: The Role of the Global Ocean Treaty

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