Over 30 countries are in support of a treaty, agreed upon two years ago, to designate 30% of international waters as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030.
This move is expected to help safeguard marine life and support ecosystem recovery.
More than 2,000 marine scientists gathered last week, ahead of this week’s United Nations (UN) Oceans Conference in Nice, France.
They analysed data on ocean health.
A recommendation emanating from such a meeting, is to put brakes on deep sea mining until its long-term effects on the deep blue, is clearer.
World leaders are in support, such as
Emmanuel Macron, French President, host of the Conference. Today Macron said at the opening ceremony “the ocean is not for sale. We’re talking about a common shared good.
I think it’s madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it.”
UN Secretary General António Guterres also agreed that unregulated mining should be disallowed.
“The deep sea cannot become the Wild West.”
Also speaking at the Conference, was Jeremiah Kpan Koung, from Liberia.
“Liberia, with over 580 kilometres of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, recognises the ocean as a vital source of livelihoods, food security, economic growth and climate regulation” he said.
Koung also said Liberia has taken steps to protect the ocean from several threats, including, overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction and a rising sea level.
Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa, will be attending the Conference, and has committed to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on behalf of South Africa.
Nations are gunning to secure the High Seas Treaty, which, if signed by at least 60 signatories, could become useful.
Picture: UN