The “High Seas Treaty” entered into force today, Saturday, in a step described by international circles as “historic,” as it grants half of the Earth’s surface its first legal framework to protect its biodiversity.
This agreement came after decades of negotiations, placing fishing, mining, and pollution practices under the scrutiny of international oversight in waters beyond national jurisdiction.
The high seas cover about 50% of the planet’s area and represent a massive carbon reservoir with an estimated annual economic value between 74 and 222 billion dollars.
Under the new law, countries can now establish marine protected areas through voting, preventing any single nation from blocking the decision. It also mandates environmental impact assessments for any planned human activity.
– A historic environmental agreement… The United Nations adopts the first treaty to protect the high seas
– United Nations member states reach an agreement to protect the high seas
– ‘Positive energy’ at the start of UN negotiations to conclude a treaty to protect the high seas
This move was praised, with a statement saying: “The agreement embodies a renewed commitment to our ocean and ushers in a new era of systemic change in ocean governance.”
Concerns over legal loopholes
Despite the optimism, concerns about legal loopholes are emerging. A warning was issued, stating: “The agreement significantly raises the bar, but by itself it will not stop the start of deep-sea mining,” pointing to the interest of countries like Japan and Norway in extracting minerals from the seabed.
The greatest challenge facing this agreement remains the ability of governments to enforce strict oversight and ensure that these protected areas do not remain merely “paper parks” without actual implementation on the ground.
