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UK to ratify UN High Seas Treaty to stop oceans becoming the 'wild west'
A new treaty to govern international waters is "tantalisingly close" after countries - including Britain - promised to sign it into law.
The British government this week said it will introduce legislation by the end of the year to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty. It would be the first legally binding agreement on protecting international waters, which make up nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans, but are largely lawless.
Campaigners say this makes them vulnerable to over-fishing, climate change and the threats of deep-sea mining and geo-engineering. Hilde Heine, President of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, told Sky News the treaty is "long overdue".
The agreement is "essential for safeguarding the health and integrity of the global ocean commons - especially the high seas, which belong to no one nation but are the responsibility of all," she added. It follows recent high profile calls to protect the common vital resource, including from Sir David Attenborough and Prince William.
The High Seas Treaty was agreed by 193 countries two years ago, but will not come into force unless 60 countries ratify it. A surge in support during this week's UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, brought the number of countries ratifying it to 50.
"The entry into force is within our sight," UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday. "We do not have a moment to lose." He called the ocean the "lifeblood of our planet.
Amir Nisi
Creative and experienced content writer with 6+ years of experience lazy to create unique content strategy for News5 to turn website visitors into customers.
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