The Federal Council has approved the signing of the international agreement on the protection of the high seas. It will now draw up a proposal for consultation. Parliament will then take a decision on ratification.
The agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea contributes to the protection and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. Switzerland, as a landlocked country, also benefits from such an agreement: functioning marine ecosystems play a key role in storing CO2. For Swiss marine researchers, the signing of the agreement facilitates participation in international research projects and the exchange of knowledge. On the economic side, the agreement promotes access to marine genetic resources, which is particularly important with regard to pharmaceutical products and biotechnology innovations.
Approval decision subject to optional referendum
The states negotiated the Agreement on the Protection of the High Seas between 2018 and 2023. Before it can be ratified by Switzerland, the agreement must be approved by parliament; this approval decision is subject to an optional referendum. The Federal Council has instructed DETEC to prepare a consultation proposal for the ratification of the agreement.
Currently less than 1% of the oceans are protected
Greenpeace welcomes the decision and now calls for ratification by Parliament as soon as possible: «There is still a lot to do. Now the National Council and the Council of States have to move forward. Currently less than 1% of the oceans are protected. The Ocean Treaty is a practical tool for the creation of marine protected areas covering at least 30% of the oceans.»
The UN members, including Switzerland, agreed on a global treaty for the protection of the oceans almost two years ago. In March 2024, Greenpeace called on the Federal Council to take a step forward on marine protection and demanded: «Please move forward, Mr. Rösti!» Following the decision of the Federal Council, the long road to ratification now begins. Parliament will finally decide on the ocean treaty. According to the Federal Office for the Environment, this will not be the case until the end of 2026.
