On 5th March 2023, the UN High Seas Treaty was finally released, 20 years in the making. It was announced by the conference president, Rena Lee from Singapore which caused an emotional moment for all those who were involved in the formulation of the treaty up to this point.

What does the treaty entail?

After the legal framework has been finalised, this deal will mean that 30% of the worlds oceans are now protected and more funds will go towards marine conservation. It covers 2/3 of the ocean lying outside of nationally protected waters and will ensure that the genetic resources of the high seas are shared out. A Conference of the Parties will be instated to regularly discuss biodiversity and other issues relating to the current state of our oceans. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be established to protect against the loss of marine wildlife.

Rules that are yet to be set out by the Treaty will have to be taken seriously and into great consideration as they could potentially be enforced by environmental bodies including the International Maritime Organisation, a UN organisation who monitor shipping regulations. Environmental impact assessments, which show the consequences of an activity, will be carried out in regard to marine activities such as deep-sea mining which can greatly disrupt the ocean’s biodiversity.

Why is this important?

Oceans cover over 70% of the world’s surface and contribute to a wide range of causes. Most of the oxygen we breathe is generated by the oceans and a lot of international trade would not be possible without it. However, despite these more generic reasons, the ocean is home to a plethora of wildlife species, coming in at around 78% of all biomass on Earth being found in the oceans. They are also a carbon heat sink which reduces the amount of carbon in our atmosphere and along with trees. Therefore, they are extremely important to ensure a future for our planet and should be protected at all costs.

Much of the world’s oceans are not protected and therefore, there is no reason why people can’t exploit the resources for their own benefit due to a lack of legal framework. Therefore, this Treaty is a celebrated success among marine conservationists and climate activists alike.