STATEMENT: Conservation International Fellow Monica Medina Celebrates Ratification of High Seas Treaty
September 19, 2025
WASHINGTON (September 19, 2025) – Conservation International today issued the following statement in celebration of the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, a landmark agreement that paves the way to protect international waters — the largest and least-governed ecosystem on Earth. Adopted in 2023 — and now ratified ahead of the United Nations General Assembly by the required 60 countries — the treaty will enter into force in 120 days, clearing the path to establish marine protected areas in waters beyond national jurisdictions and advance the global goal to conserve 30 percent of Earth’s land and sea by 2030.
Conservation International, a founding member of the Blue Nature Alliance and Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition, has been focused on supporting the treaty’s ratification and implementation, as well as shaping how this legal framework can be put into practice.
Monica Medina, Arnhold Fellow at Conservation International and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, said:
“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. That’s why the treaty is so important – especially now, as overfishing, deep sea mining, climate change, pollution and isolationism are increasing threats.
“People need a healthy ocean, our way of life depends on it. The high seas are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and there is still so much to be discovered. They regulate currents and help keep ocean temperatures in balance — and may even hold the cures to human diseases. It is entirely possible to balance their protection with their ability to provide for our way of life.
“The approaching U.N. General Assembly has created the momentum needed to get us over the finish line on protecting the high seas. The high seas treaty has been in the works for years and now, and in 120 days, it will become a reality. That’s when the hard but necessary work begins. Looking ahead, I hope to soon see more marine protected areas on the high seas – an accomplishment that we should all be proud of.”
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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more, and follow us on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
