After 15 years of debate, the UN reached an international agreement to protect the high seas

The member countries of the UN reached an agreement to create the first international treaty for the protection of the high seas. The treaty is intended to counteract the threats to ecosystems vital to humanity.

“The ship has come ashore,” announced conference chairwoman Rena Lee at the United Nations headquarters in New York to applause from delegates.

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The consensus was reached after more than 15 years of discussions, including four of formal talks. This was the third negotiating session in less than a year.

What is the first international agreement for the protection of the high seas?

The treaty is considered essential to conserving 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, as agreed in an agreement signed in Montreal in December. Currently, barely 1% of the high seas is protected.

The agreement will be formally adopted after it has been reviewed by legal experts and translated into the six official languages ​​of the United Nations.

Historical agreement for the protection of the seas (Photo: EFE)

The treaty introduces the obligation to carry out environmental impact studies of the activities that are going to be carried out on the high seas.

Another very sensitive chapter that kept tensions until the last minute is the principle of sharing the benefits of marine genetic resources.

what is the high seas

The high seas begin where the Exclusive Economic Zones (ZEE) of the States end, at a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast, so it is not under the jurisdiction of any country.

Despite representing more than 60% of the oceans and nearly half the planet, the high seas have long been ignored as attention has focused on coastal areas and iconic species.

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With the advances of science, the importance of protecting all these oceans with an often microscopic biodiversity has been demonstrated, which provides half of the oxygen we breathe and limits global warming by absorbing a significant part of the CO2 generated by human activity.

When the treaty enters into force after it has been formally adopted, signed and ratified by a sufficient number of countries, marine protected areas may be created in international waters.

”Life on Earth depends on a healthy ocean. The new treaty on the high seas will be vital to our common goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030,” said Mónica Medina, head of oceans at the US State Department.