17 January 2026 marks a historic turning point for ocean governance: the High Seas Treaty has officially entered into force. This is the first legally binding international agreement dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. After more than twenty years of negotiations, the international community finally has a tool capable of addressing, in a coordinated manner, the growing pressures affecting global marine ecosystems.
The Treaty was designed to respond to increasingly urgent challenges such as biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, the impact of human activities and the effects of climate change on the oceans. Through new shared rules, the agreement promotes the establishment of marine protected areas on the high seas, strengthens environmental impact assessments and encourages international scientific cooperation, with the aim of ensuring a more equitable and sustainable management of marine resources.
Although the Mediterranean Sea is almost entirely under national jurisdictions, the High Seas Treaty is also of strategic importance for this basin. The Mediterranean is one of the world’s marine biodiversity hotspots, but at the same time one of the most vulnerable seas, heavily exposed to the combined effects of global warming, pollution, human pressure and habitat fragmentation. The health of the global oceans and the high seas is closely interconnected with that of the Mediterranean through major oceanic, climatic and ecological cycles that regulate the planet.
In this context, the Treaty represents a key opportunity to strengthen the protection of the Mediterranean by promoting an ecosystem-based approach that goes beyond national borders and recognises the ecological continuity between regional seas and the open ocean. The new international rules help create a coherent framework for the protection of migratory species, the conservation of deep-sea habitats and the sharing of scientific knowledge — all crucial aspects for the future of Mediterranean deltas.
For Mediterranean delta regions in particular, ocean protection takes on an even deeper meaning. Deltas are dynamic and fragile systems, strongly influenced by climate change, sea-level rise and alterations in global marine balances. Better protection and sustainable management of the high seas contribute to the stability of coastal ecosystems, the safety of local communities and the preservation of the ecosystem services on which millions of people depend.
In this scenario, DeltaMed – Association of Mediterranean Deltas recognises the High Seas Treaty as a key step towards more integrated and forward-looking marine governance, capable of linking oceans, regional seas and coastal territories. Protecting the high seas is not a distant issue, but an essential component of the future of the Mediterranean and its deltas, a natural and cultural heritage of inestimable value.
