From agreement to action: The High Seas Treaty in the Arctic

The adoption of the High Seas Treaty was a critical step toward the shared management of the world’s oceans and has the potential to significantly strengthen stewardship of the Arctic Ocean. However, realizing this potential requires states to step up their efforts to ratify the Treaty, define its place within international frameworks and enforce it as intended.

This was the main message from a panel discussion at the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø from 27-30 January 2025. The event was organized by the WWF Arctic Programme, the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea and Belfer Center’s Arctic Initiative.

Turning commitments Into action

There is still much work to do to make the High Seas Treaty effective in the Arctic. WWF has identified several priority areas for conservation in the Central Arctic Ocean, but protecting them requires the Treaty to come into force. It also requires cooperation between the Treaty and existing sectoral bodies. The Treaty’s science and technical body will have an important role to play in providing knowledge in guiding decisions of the Parties. The Arctic Council, with its long history of contributing to global processes, could also provide valuable knowledge to support conservation efforts in Arctic high seas.

While the Treaty recognizes Indigenous rights, further work is needed to establish clear procedures for Indigenous participation, including representation from Arctic Indigenous coastal communities.

From left to right: Vicki Lee Wallgren (WWF Global Arctic Programme), James Jansen (UK), Margaret Williams (Harvard Kennedy School), Kai Simon Eikli Yuen (Norwegian Shipowners Association), Vito De Lucia (Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea). Photo: © Charlotte Buksrud / UiT

Civil society played a critical role during the Treaty’s 20 year negotiation process, and strong engagement will be essential to drive ratification and implementation by states. The WWF Global Arctic Programme actively advocates the High Seas Treaty as a tool to achieve the target of the Global Biodiversity Framework of 30 per cent protection of oceans and lands by 2030.

Through the report The High Seas Treaty: Implications and Opportunities for the Arctic, written by Erik J. Molenaar for WWF, we present a pathway to improve biodiversity protection  in the Central Arctic Ocean, including paving the way for identifying suitable areas for protection. While ratification by states and entry into force of the Treaty is a critical step, preparatory dialogue is needed between states, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, the private sector, and the scientific community, promoting coherence and co-operation with sectoral bodies such as the International Maritime Organization, North-Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement. Strong steering and political will by all stakeholders is absolutely necessary to use the full potential of this landmark Treaty for the best of the world’s oceans.

© WWF Global Arctic Programme