1. A new protection beyond borders
Although countries are responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of the waterways under their national jurisdiction, the high seas now offer additional protection from destructive trends such as pollution and unsustainable fishing activities.
Adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Outside National Jurisdiction, the High Seas Convention aims to provide stewardship of the ocean on behalf of present and future generations, in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The new agreement contains 75 articles aimed at protecting the marine environment and ensuring responsible use, safeguarding the integrity of marine ecosystems and preserving the intrinsic value of their biological diversity.
“The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet and today you have created new life and hope to give it a chance to fight,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates on Monday.
2. Cleaner Oceans
Toxic chemicals and millions of tons of plastic waste flood coastal ecosystems, kill or injure fish, turtles, birds and marine mammals, and make their way up the food chain for human consumption.
More than 17 million tonnes of plastic entered the world’s oceans in 2021, accounting for 85% of marine litter, and the figure is projected to double or triple each year through 2040, according to the latest Sustainable Development Goals report.
If no action is taken, the UN estimates there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050.
The treaty is intended to strengthen resilience and contains regulations based on the polluter pays principle and dispute settlement mechanisms.
Under the terms of the treaty, the contracting parties must assess the potential environmental impact of all planned activities outside their territory.
3. Sustainable management of fisheries resources
According to the United Nations, more than a third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished.
The treaty emphasizes the importance of capacity building and ocean technology transfer, including the development and strengthening of institutional capacity and national regulatory frameworks or mechanisms.
This includes increased cooperation between marine organizations and regional fisheries management organizations.
4. Lower temperatures
Global warming is taking sea temperatures to new levels, leading to more frequent and violent storms, rising sea levels, and salinization of coastal areas and aquifers.
To address these pressing concerns, the treaty provides guidance, including through an integrated approach to ocean management that increases the resilience of ecosystems to the adverse impacts of climate change and ocean acidification, and preserves and restores environmental integrity, including marine services carbon cycle area.
The provisions of the treaty also recognize the rights and traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities, the freedom of scientific inquiry, and the need for a fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
5. Crucial to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
The new agreement “is essential for addressing the threats to the ocean and for the success of the associated goals and targets, including the 2030 Agenda,” said António Guterres on Monday.
The goals and targets include, among others, Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims, among other things, to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds by 2025 and to end overfishing through science-based management plans in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest possible time.
The new agreement allows for the establishment of zonal management tools, including marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably manage vital habitats and species on the high seas and in the International Seabed Zone.
The treaty also takes into account the special circumstances faced by small island and landlocked developing countries.
“We have a new instrument,” UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi told delegates at the IGC on Monday. “This historic achievement is a testament to their shared commitment to the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Together they have laid the foundation for better stewardship of our seas and ensured their survival for generations to come.”
Learn more about how the UN is working to protect the world’s oceans here.