{"id":73849,"date":"2025-09-20T17:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T05:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/?p=73849"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:31:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T21:31:05","slug":"historic-ocean-treaty-to-enter-into-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/historic-ocean-treaty-to-enter-into-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Ocean Treaty to enter into force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a landmark moment for ocean protection, the Global Ocean Treaty has now been ratified by 60 countries, meaning the historic agreement can now enter into force. The agreement\u00a0 will allow for the creation of marine protected areas on the High Seas.

Greenpeace Aotearoa is welcoming this news as a win for ocean protection and people power, saying it\u2019s the result of years of campaigning from millions of people around the globe, but is urging the New Zealand Government to also ratify the Treaty.

Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Ellie Hooper says:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cToday we celebrate a truly historic moment in the fight to protect this blue planet that we call home.

\u201cWith 60 ratifications now in place, we can now get on with the vital work of creating vast ocean sanctuaries on the high seas, places where ocean life will be protected from threats like destructive bottom trawling and the emerging risk of new industries such as deep sea mining.

\u201cNew Zealand has signed the Treaty but is yet to ratify. Now is the time for the government to commit to real ocean protection, following in the steps of our Pacific neighbours who are leading the way. We are calling on the New Zealand government to ratify the Treaty and get on board with creating high seas sanctuaries to protect the ocean for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Currently less than 0.9% of international waters are either fully or partly protected. The Global Ocean Treaty, or High Seas Treaty, is the legal mechanism that will allow the creation of a network of  ocean sanctuaries around the globe – including in the Tasman Sea between Aotearoa and Australia.

\u201cRight now one of the biggest threats to the vibrant international waters of the Tasman Sea is the New Zealand bottom trawling fleet, the only country to continue to crush  coral and kill marine life here with this highly destructive form of fishing. Bottom trawling must stop so ocean protection can start\u201d, says Hooper.

The Treaty was agreed to by UN member states in 2023 , but could not pass into law until 60 countries had ratified it,  a milestone which was reached today.<\/p>\n\n

It will enter into force in 120 days, paving the way for the first-ever Ocean Conference of the Parties (COP), likely taking place in 2026. Greenpeace is calling on all\u00a0 remaining countries to ratify the Treaty quickly and before the world\u2019s first Ocean COP.<\/p>\n\n

Mads Christensen, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, says: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cThis is a landmark moment for protecting the ocean, and proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet. The era of exploitation and destruction must end, and the Global Ocean Treaty is the tool to make that happen. But we must not get complacent.

\u201cScientists are clear that we need to protect at least 30% of our ocean by 2030, and time is running out. Governments around the world must use this time now to ensure the first historic Ocean COP becomes a turning point, and start to develop plans for the first-ever sanctuaries under the Treaty. Our ocean can\u2019t wait and neither can we.\u201d

Environmentalists say\u00a0 immediate action is required from nations to start developing plans for high seas sanctuaries, as time is running out to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, a target which governments have already agreed to:<\/p>\n\n