Why Maritime Governance Matters

On World Maritime Day, September 25, we reflect on the complex but crucial systems that govern our shared Ocean.

The Ocean covers 71% of our planet's surface and has regulated the Earth’s climate for billions of years, though in more recent times it has also absorbed 90% of the excess heat caused by our carbon emissions. For most people, however, the intricate web of international agreements, organizations, and protocols that govern this vast blue space is largely unknown, invisible. The realm of Earth system science is undoubtedly complex, but maritime governance affects every aspect of our lives: from the food on our plates to the stability of coastal communities. So let’s break down the basics everyone should know (and if you’re curious about what all the acronyms mean, there’s a glossary at the end).

Ocean literacy, an understanding of our dependence on the sea and how our society is changing it, can help to close this knowledge gap. As we face unprecedented pressures on marine ecosystems, the need for informed public engagement on Ocean governance is urgent.

A pivotal moment: the High Seas Treaty

This year marks a pivotal moment for Ocean governance. As sea surface temperatures reach record highs, pollution growing and ecosystems in decline, enough UN Member States have now ratified the BBNJ (commonly known as the High Seas Treaty, see Glossary below) for it to come into force worldwide in January 2026, protecting those two-thirds of the Ocean which are outside national jurisdiction.

A first Conference of the Parties (COP-1) will now be organized, where countries will set the rules, institutions and funding for the implementation of the Treaty: only those countries that have ratified the Treaty will have a vote. They will then be able to create Marine Protected Areas in international waters, a major step towards the 30x30 goal, and conduct environmental assessments of new activities on the high seas before they begin.

This is a significant advance in global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 14: to "conserve and sustainably use the Ocean", progress on which has been slow so far.

The Convention on the Law of the Sea

The contrast with the story of the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is instructive. First adopted in 1982, UNCLOS was the first legal framework covering all Ocean activities from territorial boundaries to navigation rights, fishing zones to deep-sea mining. Yet this "constitution for the Ocean" took twelve years to enter into force, only becoming law in 1994 when Guyana became the 60th Member State to ratify it. UNCLOS created the legal architecture within which all other Ocean governance operates, and the framework that makes the High Seas Treaty necessary: While UNCLOS divided the Ocean into zones of national control, BBNJ addresses what happens in the space beyond borders, commonly known as “international waters”.

All the challenges that the Ocean faces are interconnected, and they all have one thing in common: human impact. Climate change is altering Ocean chemistry, increasing acidification and depleting oxygen. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens the livelihood of millions who depend on the Ocean for their food security. And 80% of the pollution now drifting through Ocean currents comes from our activities on land.

The web of governance

The current Ocean governance landscape reflects decades of piecemeal development, with a complex array of overlapping authorities and responsibilities. Multiple organizations operate across different scales and sectors, from global treaties to regional fisheries bodies, shipping regulations and environmental protection protocols.

This complexity reflects the multifaceted nature of Ocean challenges and issues of national sovereignty. It also creates gaps and inefficiencies. Increasingly, the international community recognizes that effective Ocean governance must place human rights more centrally: Because our right to life, health, food and water are all directly intertwined with Ocean health.

A shared responsibility

There’s been a renewed global focus on Ocean issues in 2025, most notably at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, where a wide range of commitments were made for Ocean conservation, not least through the ratification by several Member States of the High Seas Treaty. Yet our progress on two other urgent issues, plastics pollution and IUU fishing, must also accelerate.

The achievements the international community has made on paper must also lead to meaningful change on the water, underwater, and in our lives. This requires political will, compliance from business, and engaged citizens who act with the Ocean in mind.

Citizens of the Ocean

The future of Ocean governance will depend just as much on developing a culture of “Ocean citizenship”: a sense of shared duty, and collective agency. We cannot afford to ignore the signals that the Ocean is giving us, but we need to build bridges between complex governance systems and public understanding. Ocean literacy offers one such bridge, encouraging greater awareness on all sides: a tool that facilitates public participation in the decisions that will determine the Ocean's future. And our own

Ocean Governance Glossary

BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction): Also known as the High Seas Treaty, this agreement aims to conserve marine life in international waters, which account for more than 60% of the Ocean. By 19 September, 2025, it had been ratified by 60 countries, meaning it will come into force in January 2026.

DOALOS (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea): The UN division that supports the implementation of UNCLOS, providing legal and technical assistance on Ocean law.

IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) of UNESCO: The UN body that coordinates global Ocean science programs and promotes international cooperation in marine sciences. It is lead agency of the United Nations Ocean Decade, and promotes Ocean literacy among 152 member states.

IMO (International Maritime Organization): The UN agency responsible for regulating international shipping, from safety and security to environmental standards for vessels.

IUU Fishing: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing, which undermines conservation efforts and deprives communities of both food security and jobs.

UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea): The 1982 "constitution for the Ocean" that establishes countries' rights and responsibilities in maritime zones, from territorial seas to the deep seabed.

UNITAR Maritime Governance: A UN training institute program that builds capacity for effective Ocean governance and maritime law implementation.