It has been fought over for two decades, and it has finally been in force since January 17, 2026. With the UN High Seas Agreement, up to a third of the ocean areas are to be protected for the first time. But the way there is still a long way. In conferences and further negotiations, control mechanisms and financial processes must first be fixed and, last but not least, new protected areas must be established. For the latter, only a three-quarters majority of the participating states is necessary.