The global agreement on the protection of the world’s oceans was approved

The global agreement on the protection of the world’s oceans was approved

Almost 200 UN member states approved an agreement on the protection of the world’s oceans on Saturday evening. According to the agreement, by 2030, about 30 percent of ocean waters will become protected water areas. This will allow to protect and restore marine flora and fauna.

The subject of the agreement is the so-called open sea – international ocean waters outside state borders. The document was prepared for almost two decades. The countries could not come to a common opinion for a long time, mainly due to disagreements about fishing quotas. Now the text of the agreement will no longer be revised, the participating countries only have to formally ratify it.

The treaty provides for the creation of protected marine zones. Now only 1.2 percent of the ocean is protected. According to the agreement, a third of all neutral waters should be protected. Fishing, shipping and deep-water drilling in protected areas will be possible only after a comprehensive environmental assessment.

The world ocean is a unique ecosystem, a source of sustenance for billions of people. It plays a key role in climate regulation, absorbing more than 90% of excess heat on the planet. Now many marine species are under threat of extinction due to overfishing, global warming, which leads to acidification of waters, and ocean pollution.



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