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Rabat – Member states of the United Nations agreed on an international treaty to protect the high seas after years of negotiations, making for the first international text to serve such a purpose.
Negotiators from over 100 countries completed the treaty, which many environmentalist groups see as a long-awaited step to reverse losses in the marine ecosystem.
The legally binding pact, which had been under discussion for 15 years, will regulate the use of ocean biodiversity to ensure a sustainable and conservative approach.
It places 30% of the world’s oceans under a protected status, and allocates more funding towards marine conservation and new rules for mining at sea, such as requiring environmental assessments before engaging in commercial activity.
Other arrangements include the sharing of marine genetic resources and material from marine animals for pharmaceutical use and in food.
The high seas refers to international waters, which make up two-thirds of the world’s oceans and where all countries have the right to fish, ship, and conduct research.
Up until the UN High Seas Treaty, only 1% of these bodies of water were protected, leaving marine wildlife and other resources ripe for overexploitation and damage.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that 10% of marine species are at risk of extinction, with the two biggest causes being overfishing and pollution.
Deep-sea mining activity can notably also cause plumes of dust that spread through the oceans and smother living forms. As mining companies start to look at deep-sea mining as a way to extract resources, scientists and activists will measure the potential impact of the practice on the ecosystem.
Despite the new treaty, some worry that it is too little too late, especially since it has a long way to go to be officially ratified by the member states and come into force.
