UN agree historic new treaty to protect the high seas after 15 YEARS of negotiations
Historic new UN treaty to protect the high seas: member states agree to a new deal that could bring restrictions on deep-sea fishing and mining, after 15 YEARS of negotiations
UN member states have agreed to a landmark treaty to protect the high seas after 15 years of negotiations.
The high seas begin outside of countries’ national waters, which extend up to 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from shorelines.
Therefore, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of any country.
Ocean ecosystems create half of the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide.
But they are threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing.
United Nations headquarters in New York
UN member states finally agreed to a landmark treaty to protect the high seas
When the treaty enters into force it will allow the creation of marine protected areas in these waters.
It could mean restrictions on fishing and mining on the seabed.
The high seas comprise more than 60 percent of the world’s oceans and almost half of the planet’s surface.
Only about 1% of the high seas is currently under protection.
The treaty is seen as essential to reaching the goal of conserving 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030.
Greenpeace said that 4.2 million square miles of ocean must be protected each year until 2030 to reach the goal.