UN treaty to protect ‘extraordinary’ marine life due to come into force

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Lyndal RowlandsJanuary 16, 2026 at 10:18 AM

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A UN treaty to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, known as the High Seas Treaty, is set to come into force on January 16, 2026, after being ratified by 81 governments. The treaty, signed by 148 countries since its adoption in June 2023, aims to safeguard approximately 10 million species in an area covering two-thirds of the world's oceans. It addresses threats such as climate change, overfishing, and deep-sea mining. The agreement, officially named the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), seeks to protect vital marine ecosystems. The treaty is considered a crucial step in preserving the health of the planet's oceans and the diverse life they support.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Maldives 60% Antonio Guterres 60% Palau 60% Cuba 60% Germany 70% China 70% Japan 70% France 70% Brazil 70% Rebecca Hubbard ×275% High Seas Treaty ×285% UN ×490%

Keywords

high seas treaty 100% marine biodiversity 90% marine life protection 80% un treaty 80% international waters 70% ocean conservation 70% climate change 60% deep-sea mining 50% overfishing 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Positive

Score: 0.70

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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high seas treaty marine biodiversity marine life protection un treaty international waters ocean conservation climate change deep-sea mining overfishing

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