UN High Seas Treaty adopted to protect world's oceans
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It's hoped the agreement will protect endangered animals like turtles, sharks and whales
An international agreement that for the first time seeks to protect oceans, animals and biodiversity in international waters, has taken a step closer to becoming a reality.
The United Nations' (UN) High Seas treaty was adopted on Monday and aims to protect and conserve the international waters covering more than 60% of the planet.
Countries can claim ownership of waters up to 12 nautical miles from their coastline, and can claim sole rights to fish and mine in areas up to 200 nautical miles from their shores, but this treaty would cover the international waters, or high seas, not officially owned by anyone.
It has taken at least 15 years of talks to reach this stage and from September the UN's 193 member states will have two years' to officially sign up to the treaty.
The treaty requires a minimum of 60 countries to bring it into effect.
A treaty is a formal, written agreement, like a contract, usually made between two or more states, in international law.
Other terms for a treaty include an international agreement, protocol, covenant, convention, or pact.
- UN Treaties Collection
Our oceans and marine animals are under threat from factors like climate change, too much fishing, mining and traffic from big ships.
If the treaty comes into effect it means 30% of the high seas - the parts of the ocean not owned by any single country - would be protected by the year 2030, hopefully giving the oceans a "fighting chance".
The aim fits in with the goal the UN member states set in December to place 30% of the world's land and seas under environmental protection by 2030.
Extinction risk
Over 90% of shark & ray species are at risk of extinction, but this agreement could help reverse that
About 10% of marine life is at risk of extinction, according to experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The high seas treaty to protect parts of the ocean could help turn the tide on that.
Dr Ngozi Oguguah, chief research officer at the Nigerian Institute For Oceanography and Marine Research says: "The two biggest causes [of extinction] are overfishing and pollution.
"If we have marine protected sanctuaries most of the marine resources will have the time to recover."
Why has it taken so long to agree?
Dugongs (sea cows!) are endangered, but scientists hope this agreement could protect them
Simply put, there are a lot of countries involved and there is a lot at stake.
The last international agreement on the ocean, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, was signed 40 years ago in 1982.
That agreement established an area called the high seas - international waters where all countries have a right to fish, ship and carry out research.
This agreement builds on that by aiming to now protect a portion of the high seas.
The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, and today, you have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance
Countries have long disagreed about their rights over those waters.
There's also concern with the new treaty about how much money countries will spend on protection.
Whales need lots of space to roam in the ocean, so more protected areas could help them
Some environmental groups, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), welcomed the latest treaty but said it would only work if enough countries stuck to it, and made it a law in their own countries.
"This is a landmark moment for the ocean" the WWF said, "but this is not a finish line" it added.
"For the treaty's good intentions to deliver results on the water, we've got to keep the pressure up."
- Published5 March 2023
