Terra Firma: Hope on the High Seas?

Victory at the UN Ocean Conference

The UN Ocean Conference is, apparently, a success.

Just shy of 200 countries were represented in Nice, Southern France to discuss the threats to the blue planet.

Some are marking it as a turning point for ocean protection. One key step is the ratification of the International Treaty on the High Seas, which focuses on conservation and sustainable uses of international waters. It has received 55 ratifications, a further 15 nations have set dates and another 15 to be completed by the end of 2025.

This means that it is very likely to hit the required 60 nation target to enforce the treaty. Once the 60th nation signs, it will become legally binding. The first ever such treaty that will protect vital marine biodiversity.

Speaking at the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said:

"This means that this treaty will be able to enter into force on January 1 of next year, which means we would finally have an international framework to regulate and administer the high seas."

Adopted in 2023, the High Seas Treaty would permit nations to establish marine parks and protect them in international waters, which cover two thirds of the world’s oceans.

The treaty will put 30 per cent of the ocean into protected areas.

This is incredibly speedy for a UN agreement. Elizabeth Wilson, of the environmental charity The Pew Trusts, said:

"We have worked on many different treaties over the years and ratification often takes five years, seven years.
So the fact the High Seas Treaty is on the cusp of it entering into force really shows the global momentum behind working to protect more of the high seas."

Unfortunately, the United States will not be ratifying the treaty any time soon, but that will not stop other nations from going ahead.

Sensible US diplomats praised the progress on the treaty. John Kerry, former US Secretary of State, said:

"From progress on the High Seas Treaty to French Polynesia's marine protected area, UNOC provided the latest proof that when we work together, real accomplishment is possible."

There is progress from other nations. The UK has pledged to ban bottom trawling, an appallingly destructive fishing practice, in a third of English marine protected areas (MPAs).

French Polynesia takes the blue ribbon for the largest ever protected area to be launched, with 900,000 square kilometres of their waters to be protected from mining and extractive fishing.

There are other threats which need to be addressed. Deep sea mining and the enormous amounts of rubbish in the ocean are both leading to the leaching of harmful chemicals and threaten biomes which we barely understand.

Two thousand scientists recommended that all deep sea extractive exploration be paused until we have a better understanding of the ecosystems there, only 0.001 per cent of which have been mapped.

The two biggest polluters, China and the US, were not present. China also operates the world’s largest fishing fleet, which has been accused of rank poor practice and encroachment on other nations’ sovereign waters.

This is a victory for Terra Firma, but there are many more battles to come. Stacy Jupiter, Executive Director of Global Marine Conservation for WCS, said:

“This week generated strong, positive momentum for ocean conservation through commitments to financing and ocean stewardship. Now it is time to push delivery on tangible actions to sustainably protect our oceans and address climate change impacts.”

Are you hopeful about the High Seas Treaty?
Which ocean threat worries you the most?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and share this post if you believe our oceans deserve more attention.