Our oceans provide half the planet's oxygen, are the world's largest carbon store, and due to their size and volume represent over 95% of the world's living space (biosphere).  The oceans also absorb around a quarter of our annual carbon dioxide emissions, buffering the world from intense, rapid and catastrophic global warming. However, nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans lie outside national boundaries, known as the 'high seas' (or 'international waters') - which means they are not subject to national regulations and have very little protection from potentially damaging extractive activities, such as industrial fishing and deep-sea mining.  

In December, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's global summit, COP15, agreed on a new global biodiversity framework including a target to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 (known as '30 by 30').  Without the inclusion of the high seas in this, there is no way that 30% of the seas could be protected.  This new 'High Seas Treaty' provides the legal mechanism to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in this vast area of our world. These will protect against the loss of wildlife, help protect carbon stores and support our resilience to climate change.  The treaty also makes important provisions to equitably share out the significant (and not yet fully known) genetic resources of the seas (which could provide vital medicines).  

This is a really significant moment, for everyone on the planet - ensuring that vast areas of our life support system will be safeguarded.  Crucially, the MPAs within national jurisdictions, like ours in Northern Ireland, will be joined by new MPAs in the high seas, which, if designed well, will form a network to help protect wildlife and the ‘ecosystem services’ of the oceans. Most species in our seas have life stages that mean they move through long distances – often crossing national and international boundaries.  If we only have protection in one area without enough protection in other parts of the ocean we cannot protect wildlife.  The new Global Ocean Treaty will help resolve this. 

At home, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is currently finishing an MPA Strategy review – working out how to maximise the benefits of MPAs against a backdrop of changing climate and ocean conditions, and in the Republic of Ireland new legislation is in development to enable designation of 30% of ROI seas as MPAs. These approaches will now dovetail with similar intentions across international waters.

The next steps will of course be implementing the treaty – and something that all governments, no matter how small, should step up to support.  New technology such as satellite monitoring of large vessels will help ensure compliance with ‘closed areas’ – this will be crucial in managing areas that are far offshore.  Helping industries to adapt to closed areas in MPAs and recognising the benefits of MPAs for sustainable fisheries, for example, is crucial in delivering the goals of the Treaty – to reverse biodiversity loss, and enable our oceans to continue to support life on earth.