 The UN Chief speaks at the inter-government conference (Photo: Vietnam Delegation at the UN) |
Until now, there has never been any international law governing the high seas, so many individuals and organizations hope the UN's adoption of the measure will mark a clear turning point for vast stretches of the planet where conservation efforts have long struggled in a sort of wild west of exploration, overfishing, oil exploration and deep-sea mining.
The only treaty that came close previously was the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force three decades ago. But that treaty regulated seas within country's territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, leaving nearly half the planet's surface and two-thirds of the ocean unregulated — particularly when it comes to protecting biodiversity. The new high seas treaty was agreed to under the authority of the previous Law of the Seas Treaty.