Why the High Seas Treaty won’t be enough to protect the ocean
2023-03-24
Good news for the ocean! Countries have finally reached a landmark agreement, the High Seas Treaty, to protect marine life in international waters following long-term negotiations. International waters (or high seas) refer to the two-thirds of the ocean that lie outside of national jurisdiction. At present, only 1.2% of these waters are protected—a startling contrast to the 17% of protected land areas—exposing many marine life to the threat of overfishing, shipping traffic, research, and other human activities.The High Seas Treaty intends to provide a framework to establish marine protected areas in international waters, and achieve the goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.