A global agreement designed to protect the world's oceans and reverse damage to marine life is set to become international law. The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January.
The deal, which has been two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas.
Environmentalists heralded the milestone as a monumental achievement and evidence that countries can work together for environmental protection.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity.
Decades of overfishing, pollution, and climate change have damaged life below the surface. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nearly 10% of marine species are at risk of extinction.
Countries committed to protecting 30% of national and international waters by 2030 to help depleted marine life recover. However, with only 1% of the high seas currently protected, the requirement for more than 60 nations to ratify the treaty represents a significant hurdle.
Critics note that while countries can register concerns about environmental impact assessments, the final decisions will rest with individual nations. Once the treaty is enforced, countries will be able to propose areas for protection, which will then be voted on by treaty signatories.
The ocean is vital for sustaining life on Earth, contributing an estimated $2.5 trillion to global economies and providing up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe. The successful implementation of the High Seas Treaty could mark a turning point in marine conservation.
