For the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas - representing a turning point for vast stretches of the planet where conservation has previously been hampered by a confusing patchwork of laws.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a well-established concept. The treaty agreement concluded two weeks of talks in New York.
An updated framework to protect marine life in the regions outside national boundary waters, known as the high seas, had been in discussions for more than 20 years, but previous efforts to reach an agreement had repeatedly stalled. The unified agreement treaty, which applies to nearly half the planet's surface, was reached late Saturday.
鈥淲e only really have two major global commons 鈥 the atmosphere and the oceans,鈥 said Georgetown marine biologist Rebecca Helm. While the oceans may draw less attention, 鈥減rotecting this half of earth鈥檚 surface is absolutely critical to the health of our planet."
Nichola Clark, an oceans expert at the Pew Charitable Trusts who observed the talks in New York, called the long-awaited treaty text "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect the oceans 鈥 a major win for biodiversity."
The treaty will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas. And Clark said that's critical to achieve the UN Biodiversity Conference鈥檚 recent pledge to protect 30 per cent of the planet鈥檚 waters, as well as its land, for conservation.
Treaty negotiations initially were anticipated to conclude Friday, but stretched through the night and deep into Saturday. The crafting of the treaty, which at times looked in jeopardy, represents 鈥渁 historic and overwhelming success for international marine protection,鈥 said Steffi Lemke, Germany's environment minister.
鈥淔or the first time, we are getting a binding agreement for the high seas, which until now have hardly been protected,鈥 Lemke said. 鈥淐omprehensive protection of endangered species and habitats is now finally possible on more than 40 per cent of the Earth's surface.鈥
The treaty also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.
鈥淚t means all activities planned for the high seas need to be looked at, though not all will go through a full assessment,鈥 said Jessica Battle, an oceans governance expert at the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
Several marine species 鈥 including dolphins, whales, sea turtles and many fish 鈥 make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas. Efforts to protect them, along with human communities that rely on fishing or tourism related to marine life, have long proven difficult for international governing bodies.
鈥淭his treaty will help to knit together the different regional treaties to be able to address threats and concerns across species' ranges,鈥 Battle said.
That protection also helps coastal biodiversity and economies, said Gladys Mart铆nez de Lemos, executive director of the nonprofit Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense focusing on environmental issues across Latin America.
鈥淕overnments have taken an important step that strengthens the legal protection of two-thirds of the ocean and with it marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities,鈥 she said.
The question now is how well the ambitious treaty will be implemented.
Formal adoption also remains outstanding, with numerous conservationists and environmental groups vowing to watch closely.
The high seas have long suffered exploitation due to commercial fishing and mining, as well as pollution from chemicals and plastics. The new agreement is about 鈥渁cknowledging that the ocean is not a limitless resource, and it requires global cooperation to use the ocean sustainably,鈥 Rutgers University biologist Malin Pinsky said.
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Associated Press writer Frank Jordans contributed to this report from Berlin.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute鈥檚 Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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