UN Approves Historic High Seas Treaty

The United Nations has unanimously adopted the first-ever legally binding international treaty governing the high seas. Known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty (BBNJ), or popularly as the High Seas Treaty, this monumental measure aims to protect marine biodiversity, prevent disputes over natural resources, and regulate activities like shipping and deep-sea mining.

In the absence of previous international law governing the high seas, this pioneering legislation is seen as a beacon of hope for areas of the planet where Conservation initiatives have battled unchecked activities like overfishing, oil exploration, and deep-sea mining.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised member nations for their landmark decision, saying, “You have delivered… and you have done so at a critical time.”

The High Seas Treaty aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and sea by 2030. Achieving this goal will require the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the High Seas, facilitated by the newly enacted BBNJ Treaty.

Roughly two-thirds of the Earth’s oceans lie beyond national boundaries, forming an area known as the ‘high seas.’ Despite their vastness, only about 1% of this unexplored expanse has been protected until now. The advent of this treaty marks a significant stride in safeguarding these expansive marine landscapes.

Key aspects of the High Seas Treaty include:

1. Establishment of MPAs: The treaty outlines a framework for the creation of MPAs beyond national territorial waters. These areas will counter the biodiversity loss and degradation of marine ecosystems caused by Climate change and human activities such as overfishing and Pollution.
2. Environmental Impact Assessment: The treaty requires signatory countries to evaluate the environmental impacts of their proposed activities on the high seas, thus preventing potentially harmful practices.
3. Monitoring and Enforcement: A Conference of Parties (COP) will be established to ensure compliance with the treaty’s terms, supported by a scientific advisory board.
4. Equitable Sharing of Marine Technology: A mechanism to transfer marine technology to developing countries will be instituted, ensuring equitable benefits from high seas resources.

The treaty, however, has a final hurdle to clear. It will only come into effect 120 days after it is ratified by at least 60 U.N. member nations individually. Despite some resistance from countries such as Russia, there is optimism that the required 60 ratifications will be achieved by the next U.N. Ocean Conference in 2025.

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