Protect our national waters and our global ocean
On 17th January 2026, the High Seas Treaty, the most significant mechanism for global ocean governance in a generation, came into force. But at the moment, the UK isn’t part of it.
Following annoucements at the UN Ocean Conference last year, we’re calling on the UK Government to show true leadership in protecting our ocean and ratify the High Seas Treaty without delay.
What is the High Seas Treaty
The Treaty provides the first ever legal framework to protect biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Crucially, it enables the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the high seas for the first time.
These MPAs would act as nature reserves at sea, safeguarding rare, threatened and ecologically important habitats and species from damaging activities. The Treaty has the potential to dramatically expand the area of ocean under conservation and make a vital contribution to global targets such as protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.
The Treaty would also enable scientific research in the area to be shared between countries, and any activities that take place would require Environmental Impact Assessment.
What we are doing
Last summer, our Chief Executive, Sandy Luk, sent an open letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and key Cabinet Members urging the UK Government to:
- Ratify the High Seas Treaty - a ground-breaking international agreement covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean.
- Reaffirm funding for the UK Overseas Territories to look after an area of ocean over sixteen times the size of the UK to protect marine life and habitats.
- Work with industry, governments, fishing communities and wider society to find sustainable alternative solutions to unsustainable fishing practices, including supporting fishing communities to transition away from bottom-towed gear.
The UK signed the High Seas Treaty nearly two years ago. However, it has still not ratified it.
Thanks to nearly 1,500 of you who used our letter template to email your MP to urge them to call on the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and the Leaders of the House of Commons to make the parliamentary time to protect our ocean, we've been keeping the pressure up.
The future of the high seas
The High Seas Treaty will only be as strong as the institutions and governance structures created to bring it to life. The UK has a strong track record of leadership at international environmental negotiations. It should be playing a central role in shaping this next chapter for the ocean.
We urge the UK Government to move swiftly to ratify the Treaty as quickly as possible, so the UK can participate fully in COP1 and help deliver real, lasting protection for the high seas.
Turning this landmark agreement into meaningful ocean recovery will require strong governance, effective implementation and fair, inclusive participation by all countries.