International community reaches agreement on global High Seas Treaty

On 4 March, delegates came to an agreement on the High Seas Treaty during an international conference at the UN headquarters in New York. 20 years in the making, the treaty establishes, for the first time, binding rules governing the high seas.

Thus far, the high seas were marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, with inconsistent levels of protection. The agreement provides the option to establish marine protected areas to protect them from problems such as overfishing, shipping, or plastic waste pollution. Additionally, the agreement will lay down rules for environmental impact assessments to prevent adverse impacts caused by new activities.

Questions over enforcement remain, but diplomats from across the globe consider the agreement a great success.

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