(ANSA) - NEW YORK, MARCH 04 - The member states of the United Nations have finally reached an agreement, after years of negotiations, to protect the High Seas, a fragile and avoidable treasure that covers almost half of the planet.
"The ship has reached shore," announced conference chair Rena Lee at United Nations headquarters in New York just before 9:30pm on Saturday local time (3:30am Sunday GMT) to applause from delegates.
The High Seas is the sea area beyond the national Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - more than 200 nautical miles from the coast, if states have declared the EEZ - and occupies about two-thirds of the ocean.
This area is part of international waters, therefore outside national jurisdictions, in which all states have the right to fish, navigate and research, for example.
At the same time, the High Seas plays a vital role in supporting fishing activities, providing habitats for species crucial to the health of the planet and mitigating the impact of the climate crisis.
So far, no government has taken responsibility for the protection and sustainable management of AltoMare resources, which makes these areas vulnerable.
As a result, some of the planet's most important ecosystems are at risk, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and habitat.
According to estimates, between 10% and 15% of marine species are already at risk of extinction.
(HANDLE).