By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada September 23, 2026
Canada has formally ratified a landmark international treaty designed to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas, while Prime Minister Mark Carney announced C$82 million in new funding to strengthen global ocean observation.
Carney made the announcement in New York on Wednesday during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where Canada joined other countries in a broader push to strengthen international cooperation on ocean protection, climate change and sustainable development.
The treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, is commonly referred to as the High Seas Treaty or Global Ocean Treaty.
Canada’s ratification legally commits the country to the international agreement, which establishes a framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in international waters.
What is the High Seas Treaty?
The High Seas Treaty addresses parts of the world’s oceans that fall outside the national jurisdiction of individual countries.
These international waters cover a vast portion of the planet and contain ecosystems that are home to numerous marine species.
The treaty provides a framework for countries to cooperate in protecting biodiversity in these areas, including through the creation of marine protected areas and stronger environmental assessments for activities that could affect marine ecosystems.
The agreement entered into force in January 2026 after reaching the required number of ratifications. It is the first legally binding international agreement specifically focused on protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Canada commits C$82 million for ocean observation
Alongside the treaty ratification, Canada announced C$82 million over five years to expand its contribution to global ocean observation.
The funding will support the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), an international network that collects information about the world’s oceans.
According to the Canadian government, GOOS currently produces approximately 120,000 ocean observations every day from about 8,000 platforms operated by 64 countries and 17 global observation networks.
The information gathered through the system is used for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, maritime safety, coastal protection and understanding changes taking place in marine ecosystems.
Canada’s contribution is part of a wider international funding effort.
At an ocean-observation event in New York co-hosted by Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, participating countries announced pledges worth approximately C$339 million in total for the Global Ocean Observing System.
Why ocean observation matters
Scientists and governments rely on accurate ocean data to understand changes in the marine environment and their effects on communities around the world.
Ocean observations can help improve forecasts of storms and other weather events, monitor climate patterns and provide information needed for maritime operations.
They are also important for countries whose economies depend heavily on fishing, shipping, tourism and other ocean-related activities.
The Canadian government said the new funding will help maintain existing observation platforms, close important data gaps and strengthen the international coordination and reporting infrastructure supporting GOOS.
Canada’s role in protecting the world’s oceans
Canada is bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and has one of the world’s longest coastlines.
The government has therefore made ocean conservation an important part of its international environmental agenda.
Canada signed the High Seas Treaty in 2024 and has since worked toward completing the domestic process required for ratification.
With the ratification now complete, Canada is formally joining the treaty’s implementation framework.
The government says the agreement complements Canada’s existing commitments on marine conservation, including the international goal of protecting 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
More than C$24 million for treaty implementation
In addition to the C$82 million ocean-observation commitment, Canada is providing more than C$24 million to support implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
The money will help Canada contribute to international efforts to protect and sustainably manage marine biodiversity in international waters.
The treaty is expected to provide countries with a framework for establishing marine protected areas in the high seas, where no single country has exclusive jurisdiction.
Such areas could eventually restrict or regulate activities that threaten vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Canada to host Our Ocean Conference
The announcements in New York also come ahead of Canada’s hosting of the Our Ocean Conference in Halifax in 2027.
The 12th Our Ocean Conference is scheduled for May 10 and 11, 2027, and will bring together governments, international organizations, scientists, businesses and other stakeholders to discuss ocean conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources.
The conference will be chaired by Canada’s new Ocean Envoy, Diana Fox Carney.
The government says the event will provide another opportunity for countries to make commitments on ocean protection and advance efforts toward a sustainable ocean economy.
A broader international push
Canada’s announcement is part of a broader effort to strengthen international cooperation on the world’s oceans.
At the United Nations this week, Carney has emphasized multilateral cooperation as Canada seeks to strengthen its role in international institutions.
The Prime Minister has also joined other world leaders in launching the Partners for Multilateralism coalition, an initiative focused on international law, cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.
The ocean initiatives therefore form part of a wider Canadian diplomatic agenda at this year’s UN General Assembly.
What happens next?
Canada’s ratification means the country will now participate formally in the treaty’s implementation and governance processes.
The practical impact will depend on how countries translate the agreement into marine conservation measures and how effectively governments cooperate over waters that do not belong to any single nation.
For Canada, the combination of treaty ratification and new funding represents a significant expansion of its contribution to international ocean governance.
As countries confront rising pressure on marine ecosystems from pollution, overfishing, climate change and other activities, governments are increasingly looking beyond national waters for solutions.
Canada’s latest commitments put the country among the nations seeking to build a stronger international framework for protecting the world’s high seas while improving the scientific information needed to understand and manage them.
