From January 11 to 22, 2027, the first ‘Ocean COP’ will take place, the first formal meeting of states that have ratified the groundbreaking treaty for the protection of the High Seas.
The High Seas Treaty, as the meeting is officially called, will be held at the UN headquarters in New York. This treaty governs biodiversity in the high seas — the parts of the ocean beyond national control (about 60% of the ocean).
Only 1% protected
After years of waiting for the defenders of the ocean, the treaty, now ratified by 87 countries and signed by 144, entered into force on paper at the end of January. However, most of the instruments it offers will require specific decisions from successive COPs to come to life, particularly future marine protected areas.
Although marine ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and overfishing, science has proven the importance of protecting these oceans, which are abundant in often microscopic biodiversity, supply half of the oxygen we breathe, and limit warming by absorbing a significant portion of the CO2 emitted by human activities.
The High Seas begin where state exclusive economic zones (EEZs) end, at a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coast, and do not fall under the jurisdiction of any state.
Today, only about 1% of the High Seas, which make up nearly half of the planet and 60% of the oceans, are subject to conservation measures. In other words, only ~1% of the High Seas is currently protected.
Legally binding
Unlike climate COPs, which negotiate emissions targets, this Ocean COP is about implementing a new treaty. The key goals are to create marine protected areas in international waters, regulate the use of marine genetic resources (e.g., biotech use of ocean life), require environmental impact assessments for activities such as deep-sea mining, and coordinate fragmented ocean governance (fishing, shipping, etc.).
This Ocean COP could be more effective than regular COPs because it has a more focused scope, more concrete tools, and more operational decisions. The High Seas Treaty is legally binding, so COP decisions will activate its mechanisms.
It is a big milestone – the first real governance system for the global ocean – and it has real potential to deliver tangible outcomes (like protected zones). But effectiveness will depend on political will, industry resistance, and the speed of implementation.
