The conference strives for a binding treaty to protect biodiversity in the largely unlawful high seas.
Fish in a marine reserve off the coast of South Africa. The UN conference in New York is aiming for better species protection for the largely unlawful high seas.
(dpa)
A UN conference on a new agreement to protect the high seas started in New York on Monday (local time) with restrained optimism. A globally binding treaty is to be negotiated by August 26 at the United Nations headquarters on the East River in Manhattan, with which the countries of the world could agree on a binding set of rules for the protection of biodiversity for the first time. Passing it would be a milestone in protecting the high seas.
From negotiating circles, however, it was said that the talks would be difficult because the countries differed significantly in their positions. The aim of the EU states is above all to determine the establishment of marine protection areas and environmental impact assessments of human activities in the future. The USA, which has been skeptical for a long time, has relaxed its stance somewhat.
Two thirds of the world’s oceans belong to the high seas and are therefore largely unlawful.