Historic treaty!!! After more than a decade of talks, the countries of world came to an agreement in 2023 on the first High Seas Treaty. What’s that?
High seas start 370 km from the coast. Beyond this point, no country has control over the seas, and everyone can fish, sail, and do research there.
Until now, most activities on the high seas were not regulated, so they could be exploited.
Because of overfishing, pollution, climate change, and deep sea mining, 10% of marine species on the high seas are in danger of going extinct.
The UN High Seas Treaty is the first treaty of its kind to protect marine life in the high seas, which are international waters.
The EU, the US, the UK, and China all played important roles in getting the deal done.
The treaty will basically limit how much fishing, exploring, deep sea mining, and other activities can happen. It was recently adopted by the United Nations.
The treaty is yet to be formally adopted as members are yet to ratify it. Once ratified by 60 countries, the treaty will be legally binding.
It is also known as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean,’ officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty.
It is the first-ever treaty to protect the world's oceans and stop the loss of ocean life.