World - A treaty to protect the world's oceans has been agreed after a decade of talks (with accompanying podcast)
WASHINGTON — For the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas — nearly half the planet's surface — concluding two weeks of talks in New York.
The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a well-established concept.
An updated framework to protect marine life in the regions outside national boundary waters, known as the high seas, had been in discussions for more than 20 years, but previous efforts to reach an agreement had repeatedly stalled. The unified agreement treaty was reached late Saturday.
"We only really have two major global commons — the atmosphere and the oceans," said Georgetown marine biologist Rebecca Helm. While the oceans may draw less attention, "protecting this half of earth's surface is absolutely critical to the health of our planet."
Now that long-awaited treaty text has been finalized, Nichola Clark, an oceans expert at the Pew Charitable Trusts who observed the talks in New York, said, "This is a once in a generation opportunity to protect the oceans — a major win for biodiversity."
________________________
Read also
Nations Agree on Language for Historic Treaty to Protect Ocean Life, The New York Times / March 05, 2023 (PAYWALL APPLIES)
UN states secure 'historic' legally-binding deal to protect high seas, FRANCE 24 English / March 05, 2023
UN member states reach agreement on historic treaty to protect ocean life, MM News / March 05, 2023
UN high seas treaty finally agreed to protect vast swathes of planet's oceans, Sky News / March 05, 2023
Nations secure U.N. global high seas biodiversity pact, Reuters / March 05, 2023
Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas, The Advocate / March 05, 2023
________________________
The treaty will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas. And Clark said that's critical to achieve the U.N. Biodiversity Conference's recent pledge to protect 30% of the planet's waters, as well as its land, for conservation.
The treaty also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.
"It means all activities planned for the high seas need to be looked at, though not all will go through a full assessment," said Jessica Battle, an oceans governance expert at the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
Many marine species — including dolphins, whales, sea turtles and many fish — make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas. Efforts to protect them — and human communities that rely on fishing or tourism related to marine life — have previously been hampered by a confusing patchwork of laws.
"This treaty will help to knit together the different regional treaties to be able to address threats and concerns across species' ranges," said Battle.
That protection also helps coastal biodiversity and economies, said Gladys Martínez de Lemos, executive director of the nonprofit Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense focusing on environmental issues across Latin America.
"Governments have taken an important step that strengthens the legal protection of two-thirds of the ocean and with it marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities," she said.
The question now is how well the ambitious treaty will be implemented.
The high seas have long suffered exploitation due to commercial fishing and mining, as well as pollution from chemicals and plastics. The new agreement is about "acknowledging that the ocean is not a limitless resource, and it requires global cooperation to use the ocean sustainably," said Malin Pinsky, a biologist at Rutgers University.
___________________
Listen also
Ocean Conservation on the International Stage with Masha Kalinina of the Pew Charitable Trusts
February 28, 2022
The challenge of protecting the wide open ocean spaces.
On this episode, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham speak with Masha Kalinina, Senior Officer, International Conservation Unit at the Pew Charitable Trusts. Masha leads Pew’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and 30 x 30 efforts. Pew is leading the way to establish new Marine Protected areas (MPAs) and other innovative area-based conservation measures to protect 30% of our global ocean by 2030.
In this info-packed episode, Masha explains the intricate framework of international gatherings, negotiations, and treaties needed protect our ocean resources. And, fresh off attending the One Ocean Summit in France, she also shares her impressions on the progress being made in ocean conservation, provides a "vibe check" on the summit, and looks ahead to what we can expect from the international conservation community in 2022.
Hint: it promises to be a busy year!
