A global agreement designed to protect the world's oceans and reverse damage to marine life is set to become international law. The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January. The deal, which has been two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas. Environmentalists heralded the milestone as a 'monumental achievement' and evidence that countries can work together for environmental protection.
'Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. Decades of overfishing, pollution from shipping, and warming oceans from climate change have damaged life below the surface. In the latest assessment of marine species, nearly 10% were found to be at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Three years ago countries agreed that 30% of the world's national and international waters — high seas — must be protected by 2030 to help depleted marine life recover. Protecting the high seas is challenging as no single country controls these waters, and all nations have rights to ship and fish there. Currently, just 1% of the high seas are protected, leaving marine life at risk from overexploitation.
In 2023, countries signed the High Seas Treaty pledging to put 30% of these waters into Marine Protected Areas. However, it could only enter force if more than 60 nations ratified it, meaning they agreed to be legally bound by it. With many nations requiring parliamentary approval, ratification can often take more than five years; but this time, it was achieved in record time, according to Elizabeth Wilson, senior director for environmental policy at environmental NGO The Pews Charitable Trust.
The UK introduced its bill for ratification to Parliament earlier this month. Kirsten Schuijt, director-general of WWF International, hailed it as 'a monumental achievement for ocean conservation.' She added, 'The High Seas Treaty will be a positive catalyst for collaboration across international waters and agreements and is a turning point for two-thirds of the world's ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction.'
Mads Christensen, executive director of Greenpeace International, called it 'a landmark moment' and 'proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet.' He stressed the urgent need for this achievement, stating, 'The era of exploitation and destruction must end. Our oceans can't wait and neither can we.'
Once the treaty comes into force, countries will propose areas to be protected, which will then be voted on by the nations that sign up to the treaty. Critics point out potential issues, notably that countries will conduct their own environmental impact assessments (EIA) and make final decisions, although concerns can be raised with monitoring bodies.
The ocean is crucial for the survival of all organisms on the planet, being the largest ecosystem and estimated to contribute $2.5 trillion to world economies while providing up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe.
'Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. Decades of overfishing, pollution from shipping, and warming oceans from climate change have damaged life below the surface. In the latest assessment of marine species, nearly 10% were found to be at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Three years ago countries agreed that 30% of the world's national and international waters — high seas — must be protected by 2030 to help depleted marine life recover. Protecting the high seas is challenging as no single country controls these waters, and all nations have rights to ship and fish there. Currently, just 1% of the high seas are protected, leaving marine life at risk from overexploitation.
In 2023, countries signed the High Seas Treaty pledging to put 30% of these waters into Marine Protected Areas. However, it could only enter force if more than 60 nations ratified it, meaning they agreed to be legally bound by it. With many nations requiring parliamentary approval, ratification can often take more than five years; but this time, it was achieved in record time, according to Elizabeth Wilson, senior director for environmental policy at environmental NGO The Pews Charitable Trust.
The UK introduced its bill for ratification to Parliament earlier this month. Kirsten Schuijt, director-general of WWF International, hailed it as 'a monumental achievement for ocean conservation.' She added, 'The High Seas Treaty will be a positive catalyst for collaboration across international waters and agreements and is a turning point for two-thirds of the world's ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction.'
Mads Christensen, executive director of Greenpeace International, called it 'a landmark moment' and 'proof that countries can come together to protect our blue planet.' He stressed the urgent need for this achievement, stating, 'The era of exploitation and destruction must end. Our oceans can't wait and neither can we.'
Once the treaty comes into force, countries will propose areas to be protected, which will then be voted on by the nations that sign up to the treaty. Critics point out potential issues, notably that countries will conduct their own environmental impact assessments (EIA) and make final decisions, although concerns can be raised with monitoring bodies.
The ocean is crucial for the survival of all organisms on the planet, being the largest ecosystem and estimated to contribute $2.5 trillion to world economies while providing up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe.
