High Seas Treaty Climbs to 92 Ratifications as CoP1 Planning Advances

The BBNJ High Seas Treaty — which entered into force on January 17, 2026 — has now been ratified by 92 nations as of late April 2026, up from the 81 countries required for entry into force. Australia ratified in March 2026, becoming the 88th party. The treaty's third and final Preparatory Commission meeting (PrepCom 3) concluded April 2, 2026, making progress on institutional structures ahead of the first Conference of Parties (CoP1) scheduled for January 11-22, 2027. The High Seas Alliance noted that 'progress was made, but critical gaps remain' — particularly concerning subsidiary body nominations and the timeline for the first high-seas Marine Protected Area designations. The treaty, which for the first time creates a legal framework for the 64% of the world's oceans beyond national jurisdiction, enables binding MPA designations in international waters. INC plastics treaty negotiations also progressed in 2026: a new chairperson (Julio Cordano of Chile) was elected at INC-5.3 in Geneva in February, with substantive negotiations on production caps expected at INC-5.4 later in 2026.