The highly anticipated High Seas Treaty has come into force today, marking a \u201chistoric milestone\u201d for global ocean conservation. <\/p>\n
Covering almost half of the planet\u2019s surface, the High Seas<\/a> lie beyond national borders and form part of the global commons. Until now, there was no legal framework dedicated to protecting biodiversity in these international waters and ensuring the benefits of their resources were shared fairly among nations. <\/p>\n However, following decades of negotiations, a Treaty text was finalised in March 2023, setting clear obligations on how to ensure ocean resources are used sustainably. To come into effect, 60 country ratifications (final approval and consent to be legally bound by a treaty) were required \u2013 a milestone that was achieved on 19 September last year. <\/p>\n While experts have praised the agreement as a \u201cturning point\u201d for multilateral cooperation and ocean governance, concern remains around potential loopholes. <\/p>\n What are the High Seas, and why are they so important?<\/p>\n The High Seas is often used to describe all areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column (the vertical section of water from the surface to the bottom). This equates to international waters that cover more than two-thirds of our ocean – almost 50 per cent of the planet\u2019s surface area.<\/p>\n Once considered barren and desolate, scientists now regard the High Seas as one of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on Earth. It plays an important role in regulating the climate, supporting \u201ccrucial\u201d carbon and water cycles<\/a>.<\/p>\n In fact, it is estimated that the economic value of carbon stored by the High Seas ranges from $74 billion (around \u20ac63.62 billion) to $222 billion (\u20ac190.85 billion) per year. <\/p>\n However, human activity poses a growing problem for the High Seas. According to the High Seas Alliance (HSA), which advocated for the treaty, destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling and illegal fishing are harming High-Seas marine life. <\/p>\n This, combined with plastic and chemical pollution, emerging activities such as seabed mining, and waters being acidified by rising temperatures, puts the High Seas under severe threat. <\/p>\n What will the High Seas Treaty do?<\/p>\n Now international law, the Treaty will empower nations to establish a connected network of High Seas marine protected areas (MPAs) – which can be adopted by a vote when consensus cannot be reached. This helps prevent a single nation from blocking MPAs being established.<\/p>\n It also supports developing countries through capacity building and the transfer of marine technology so that they are better empowered to develop, implement, monitor and manage future High Seas MPAs.<\/p>\n Several legal obligations apply from today. For example, any planned activity under a Party’s control that could impact the High Seas or seabed must follow the Treaty\u2019s environmental impact assessment process, and governments need to publicly notify such activities.<\/p>\n