In good news last week, Morocco and Sierra Leone ratified the High Seas Treaty that seeks to protect marine biodiversity in international waters—those beyond the jurisdiction of any country. The two nations put the treaty over the top of the 60 needed to bring it into effect under international law. The agreement covers about two-thirds of the oceans and addresses ongoing threats like plastic pollution, overfishing, as well as climate change, which is warming waters and threatening species. The high seas are also endangered by deep-sea mining.
Mother and baby sperm whale | Credit: Gabriel Barathieu/Creative Commons
The High Seas Treaty is part of the goal to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land and seas by 2030, the so-called “30×30 target.” Among other goals, the intent of the agreement is to protect whales, sharks, tuna, corals, and many more species. The treaty also establishes a framework for sharing proceeds of resources generated from biodiversity in the oceans, like genetic material from marine organisms that could be used for medicines and cosmetics among other applications.
The U.S. and China have not yet formally ratified the treaty. The Biden administration signed it, but since Trump took office, the country has not been involved. Earlier this year, Trump signed an order allowing the federal government to issue deep-sea mining permits that many other countries said would violate an older treaty.
Even though enough countries have ratified the treaty, the methods to implement it may be harder to enact. Each nation will have to regulate its own ships and companies. There will not be an international enforcement agency.
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