The High Seas Alliance, which includes marine, environmental and environmental advocacy organizations from around the world, has described the UN treaty to protect the high seas as "historic", those waters beyond national ones that are the largest habitat on the planet and open the way to protect at least 30% of the ocean.
The agreement has been signed after 17 long years of negotiations by the countries of the United Nations. The agreement will allow the implementation of protected marine areas in international waters and protect marine biodiversity, fulfilling the objective of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030
The Alliance, which includes more than 40 NGOs from around the world, in addition to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has assured after the agreement reached this morning by the countries in the United Nations, that the new treaty is a huge step to legally protect marine life with "ocean sanctuaries" and adapt "governance" of the high seas to the 21st century.
With just over 1% of the high seas currently protected, the new Treaty opens the way to ensure the protection of at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, which is the minimum that scientists consider necessary for their well-being, explains Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance.
Transparency to improve fisheries management
The Treaty establishes "modern requirements to assess and manage human activities that affect marine life on the high seas", as well as ensuring transparency to improve the management of sectors such as fisheries, maritime transport and other activities that have been deteriorating the health of the oceans.
From the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Minna Epps, director of the global Marine and Polar program, has assured that the high seas Treaty "opens the way for humanity to finally protect marine life in our only ocean".
The agreement "closes gaps in international law" and provides a framework for governments to work "together" to protect the overall health of the oceans, and strengthen climate resilience and socio-economic well-being and food security for billions of people.
For her part, Laura Meller, from Greenpeace, has described the agreement as "historic for the conservation" of the oceans, referring to it as "a sign that, in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics".
"Countries must formally adopt the Treaty and ratify it as quickly as possible for it to enter into force and ensure the fully protected ocean sanctuaries that our planet needs."
"Historic for humanity"
Lisa Speer, director of the international ocean program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), has said that "this text provides the basis for protecting key points of biodiversity in the high seas. We now have a path to achieve the goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030."
This goal, according to scientists, "is crucial" to maintain the health of the oceans in the face of global warming and the acidification of the oceans and other impacts of the climate crisis.
Gladys Martínez, executive director of the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), has stated that "governments have taken an important step for the legal protection of two thirds of the ocean, and with it, of marine biodiversity, the livelihoods of coastal communities and food sovereignty".
