Nations reach agreement to protect marine life

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, members of the United Nations have agreed to a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas — which accounts for nearly half of the planet’s surface — after two weeks of negotiations in New York.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea entered into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a consolidated concept.

The updated framework to protect marine life in areas outside of waters under national sovereignty, known as the high seas, had been under negotiation for more than 20 years, but previous efforts to reach an agreement had to repeatedly failed. The unified deal was completed on Saturday evening.

“We only have two major global elements in common: the atmosphere and the oceans,” said Georgetown marine biologist Rebecca Helm. While the oceans may get less attention, he noted, “protecting this half of the Earth’s surface is absolutely critical to the security of our planet.”

Now that the long-awaited treaty has been finalized, “this is a unique opportunity to protect the oceans, a huge win for diversity,” said Nichola Clark, oceans expert at the Pew Charitable Trusts, who observed the talks in New York. York.

The document will create a new body to manage the conservation of marine life and establish protected areas on the high seas. 30% of the planet’s waters, in addition to the land, for conservation.

The treaty also lays the foundation for environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.

“This means that all activities planned for the high seas must be reviewed, although not all will stop a full assessment,” said Jessica Battle, ocean governance expert at the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Many marine species – such as dolphins, whales, sea turtles and many fish – make long annual migrations that cross national borders and the high seas. In the past, efforts to protect them – and communities dependent on fishing or tourism associated with marine life – have been hampered by a confusing patchwork of disparate regulations.

“This treaty will help bring together the various regional treaties to address cross-species threats and concerns,” Battle said.

Such protection also helps biodiversity and coastal economies, said Gladys Martínez de Lemos, executive director of the Environmental Defense Association specializing in environmental issues in 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,” he said.

The question is how the ambitious treaty will be implemented.

The high seas have long suffered from mining and commercial fishing, as well as pollution from plastics and chemicals. The new agreement aims to “recognize that the ocean is not an unlimited resource and that sustainable use of the ocean requires global cooperation,” said Rutgers University biologist Malin Pinsky.

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Larson is on Twitter as @larsonchristina and Whittle as @pxwhittle

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