Minderoo marks ratification of High Seas Treaty with millions to ensure effective rollout

23 Sept 2025 – Minderoo Foundation has marked the ratification of the High Seas Treaty by announcing two new grants worth more than US$2.8 million (A$4.25 million) to accelerate the swift and science-based implementation of the landmark agreement.

At a Climate Week event in New York City alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, heads of state, and other dignitaries, Minderoo Foundation Founder Dr Andrew Forrest AO confirmed two new tranches of funding on the back of the imminent entry into force of the High Seas Treaty and a new era of international ocean governance.

The first is a collaboration with the US-based Marine Conservation Institute (MCI) to strengthen global science-based standards for marine protection in the high seas.

Dr Forrest said the partnership would bolster MCI’s High Seas Protection Tracker – an interactive mapping tool that enables users to explore and assess the extent and quality of marine protections in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The second funding arrangement will support the High Seas Alliance to help countries implement the treaty through the provision of policy, legal and technical expertise.

“The High Seas Treaty is the legal engine that makes the global 30x30 ocean protection target possible,” Dr Forrest said.

“It is a once-in-several-generation opportunity to protect the vast amount of ocean that lies in international waters – the global commons – which is crucial for protecting biodiversity and safeguarding carbon-rich marine ecosystems.

“We must act swiftly and decisively to turn this agreement into real protections before irreversible damage is done to our ocean. That is why Minderoo Foundation is providing A$4.25 million to accelerate the swift and science-based implementation of the treaty.”

Minderoo Foundation’s support of MCI will empower governments, NGOs, and treaty stakeholders with the data and guidance needed to assess and strengthen proposed marine protected areas in the high seas.

“Together, we must raise awareness, build coalitions, and advocate for strong protections,” Dr Forrest said. “We are at a critical juncture where bold action, backed by science and collaboration, is urgently needed to protect our ocean’s most vulnerable and least governed spaces. This initiative is about turning global commitments into real protections – before it’s too late.”

Holly Buschman, Executive Director, Natural Ecosystems, Minderoo Foundation, said: “The High Seas Treaty is a critical step toward protecting the shared ocean ecosystems we all depend on. But treaties only matter if they translate into action. That’s why Minderoo Foundation is committed to supporting partners with the expertise, evidence and resources needed to make this agreement effective on the water.

“This is about ensuring that global ambition delivers real benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and the communities whose futures are tied to the health of our ocean,” Ms Buschman said.

Minderoo’s announcement took place during the high-level event ‘From Nice to New York: Activating the High Seas Treaty’, on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

The event was co-hosted by the governments of Belgium, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Chile, France, the European Union, and Palau in partnership with civil society and philanthropy, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, the High Seas Alliance, Arcadia, Blue Nature Alliance, Blue Marine Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, Oceans5, Oceano Azul Foundation, and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

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