After decades of negotiations, countries have reached a historic agreement on a treaty to protect and sustainably use marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries in the high seas. This is a significant step forward in protecting the world’s oceans and their ecosystems.
What are the high seas?
The high seas are areas situated beyond 200 nautical miles from coastal countries’ exclusive economic zones. These areas cover over two-thirds of the world’s oceans and are home to an incredible array of marine life. However, they are also facing various threats such as overfishing, illegal fishing, mining, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change.
The need for a treaty
For almost two decades, countries have been negotiating to establish a treaty to protect the high seas. The negotiations were challenging due to the complexity of the issue and the many different interests involved.
The new international treaty aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the high seas, where only 1.44% is currently protected. It will create a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The treaty also provides for the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of marine genetic resources.
The agreement was reached by consensus at the United Nations headquarters in New York in 2018. The treaty was named the “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ) treaty.
What does the treaty include?
The treaty includes four main areas of work: marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building and technology transfer.
Marine genetic resources
Marine genetic resources are the genetic material derived from marine organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. The treaty provides for the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of marine genetic resources.
Area-based management tools
The treaty aims to increase the percentage of protected areas in the high seas. It will establish area-based management tools, such as marine protected areas, to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Environmental impact assessments
The treaty requires environmental impact assessments to be conducted for activities that may have significant adverse impacts on the marine environment.
Capacity building and technology transfer
The treaty provides for capacity building and technology transfer to support developing countries in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries.
What happens next?
The BBNJ treaty will enter into force when at least 60 countries ratify it. However, concerns remain as this process could take some time.
In the meantime, countries can begin to take steps to protect the high seas. For example, the United Kingdom announced plans in 2019 to establish a “blue belt” of protected areas around its overseas territories, which will cover an area of 4 million km2, including some of the world’s most pristine marine environments.