The High Seas Treaty and Latin America’s Role in Marine Conservation

The High Seas Treaty, a historic agreement finalized in 2023 after decades of negotiations, will only go into effect after at least 60 countries have ratified it. So far, just Chile, Monaco, Palau, Belize, and the Seychelles have done so, though 88 countries signed the agreement, including the United States. The stakes are high; the treaty offers an opportunity to protect half of the planet’s surface and 95% of its oceans at a critical moment in the fight to reverse an accelerating biodiversity crisis. It is also a pillar of a broader campaign to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and seas by 2030. 

Latin America and the Caribbean could be a leader in the treaty’s ratification and a trailblazer in creating marine protected areas in the high seas. The region is already a standout in marine protection in territorial waters, with several countries having met or exceeded the 30% target, including Chile, Costa Rica, and Panama. By quickly ratifying the High Seas Treaty and designating conservation areas beyond national jurisdiction, the region would bring the treaty to life, showcase its potentially transformational impacts, and attract greater international support for environmental protection in the Americas. 

Please join the Wilson Center’s Latin America Program and Environmental Change and Security Program, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, to discuss the importance of the High Seas Treaty and its ratification and implementation, including the role of the United States and Latin America in supporting the creation of ambitious marine protected areas in the Western Hemisphere.