The United Nations completed the Global Ocean Treaty, which has also been called the High Seas Treaty or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, in March 2023. This international document was established to protect oceanic territory that extends past state-sponsored control areas. As an international treaty, this agreement focuses on three main objectives: marine life protection, sustainable development promotion, and reduced impact of climate change.
Importance of the treaty
An incredible diversity of maritime species exists throughout all open-water regions. These unknown waters are more commonly understood by society as the “wild”, where various unregulated practices, including overfishing, deep sea mining operations, and plastic contamination, occur frequently. The marine ecosystem experiences disturbances from such events, which endanger numerous sea species. Marine organisms conduct three critical functions for Earth by reducing temperature and producing oxygen as they maintain biological equilibrium throughout the ocean. The legal structures intended for the high seas still remain deficient and absent. The Global Ocean Treaty aims to protect 30% of all ocean areas around the world before 2030. The defined target for this objective stands at 30 by 30.
Key provisions taken by The Global Ocean Treaty
Marine Protected Areas (MPA): The treaty aims to protect the vulnerable areas of the sea. In the MPA, industrial mining and fishing are prohibited. Here, the species are safe from being caught by fishermen or subjected to other harm.
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Countries must conduct EIAs for proposed activities in the high seas. And have to evolve their potential environmental consequences. This ensures informed decision-making and minimizes harm to marine life by the countries.
Equitable Sharing of Resources: The treaty ensures that the benefits derived from the ocean’s biodiversity should be distributed among the nations equally.
Capacity Building and Technology Transfer: Developing countries will receive the support needed for their capacity building and technology access. Which is needed to implement the treaty effectively and ensure inclusive participation.
Challenges and Opportunities of The Treaty
Implementation of the global ocean treaty will be challenging. Some significant hurdles in the implementation of the treaty are secure funding, coordination in international efforts, and enforcement of regulations in vast and remote oceanic areas. The treaty also makes way for unprecedented opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.
Some initiatives, like private sector involvement, advancement in satellite monitoring, and citizen science initiatives, can play a vital role in the treaty’s success. Additionally, the nations can address other pressing ocean issues like plastic pollution and illegal fishing through the treaty’s platform.
Why The Treaty Matters
The environment requires healthy oceans to remain healthy. Ocean bodies function as carbon storage facilities while simultaneously absorbing ocean heat while steering weather conditions. When high seas receive protections under the Global Ocean Treaty, the platform supports ocean preservation while adding value for climate change prevention and food availability.
This agreement initiates an audacious global process toward environment-centered stewardship. The future generations will inherit through this treat a historical legacy that compels all of humanity to protect nature by collaborating.
Ocean conservation receives support from individuals alongside various other human actors. Actual measures include backing sustainable seafood practices and fighting to strengthen environmental regulations while working to decrease plastic usage. Our small daily actions work together to protect the blue planet on Earth. When the Global Ocean Treaty enters into effect, it will be determined by worldwide participation from people and organizations as well as governments. Our actions will secure both future generations and a sustainable environment, which includes a thriving and clean ocean.
to read more blogs, click here
Writer
Zabin Tasmin
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE