KarunaNews Story

A major treaty establishing a framework for the world’s nations to jointly manage marine conservation in international waters, which cover about half of the Earth’s surface, will come into force in January. The treaty was reached in 2023 but 60 countries had to ratify it. Morocco deposited its acceptance on Sept. 19, becoming the 60th country to do so. The ocean regulates the Earth’s systems but faces an array of threats including pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss. The treaty, which applies to all of the ocean that is outside of countries’ exclusive economic zones, sets standards for environmental impact assessments for resource extraction, offshore wind and other projects, establishes rules for exploration and exploitation of marine genetic resources, facilitates capacity building for and transfer of technology to low-income countries, and sets up a system for the development of high seas marine protected areas.