UN treaty to protect high seas gains global support, but falls short of ratification

A landmark international treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters saw a surge in the number of countries pledging their support at the third United Nations Ocean Conference on Monday, but fell short of what is required to ratify the treaty and make it legally binding.Countries finalized the High Seas Treaty, known formally as the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), at an intergovernmental conference at the United Nations in March of 2023.