The United Nations has announced the first treaty to protect the high seas and preserve marine biodiversity in international waters.
Secretary general Antonio Guterres announced the treaty on Monday.
It had been announced in March, with more than 100 countries in compliance, after more than 15 years of discussions and five rounds of UN-led negotiations.
“You have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance,” Mr Guterres said.
“By acting to counter threats to our planet that go beyond national boundaries, you are demonstrating that global threats deserve global action and that countries can come together, in unity, for the common good.”
The UN said the agreement addressed four key issues.
Firstly, it sets up a framework for the sharing of benefits arising from marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The UN said it will additionally enable the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably manage vital habitats and species in the high seas and the international seabed area.
Thirdly, it will ensure that environmental impacts of activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction are assessed and considered in decision-making. And, lastly, the treaty will facilitate co-operation in capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology to assist parties.
The agreement is set to be rubber-stamped in New York on September 20 for two years, the day after a summit on the UN sustainable development goals.
The UN says it will take effect after 60 countries ratify the agreement.
The pact is a key part of efforts to put 30 per cent of the world’s land and sea under environmental protection by 2030, a goal set in December.
“This groundbreaking agreement significantly strengthens the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in over two-thirds of the ocean,” the UN added.
