APPG welcomes the passing of historic new High Seas Treaty

The APPG for the Ocean was delighted to see that nations across the world have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to safeguard and recuperate marine nature and the agreement was reached on the 4th March 2023, after 38 hours of talks, at UN headquarters in New York.

A critical outcome of the new Treaty is the ability to more readily realise the target of establishing 30% of the global ocean as marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030. Prior to the Treaty there was no means for States to declare MPAs beyond their national jurisdiction. As such the new Treaty supports a holistic ocean governance framework as a means to implement the obligations to protect and preserve the marine environment as included in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The historic agreement will also strengthen governance of the world’s ocean. The new Treaty goes beyond enabling protection and provides the framework to manage the ocean and sustainably use its biological resources.

The APPG was delighted to welcome representatives of Greenpeace to present at a private parliamentary briefing session ahead of the final round of UN negotiations to secure a Global Ocean Treaty last month. 

The APPG very much supports the 30x30 target and continues to work with Government to ensure this ambitious target is met.