Historic UN talks could save the high seas

You wouldn’t know it from land, but 45% of the surface of the globe lies outside the control of any government. The high seas (and seabed) are designated as "Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction" by the UN, with little regulation and few environmental safeguards. Now, after a decade of discussions, a new treaty will be negotiated to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity in these areas. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982, already provides a "Constitution for the Ocean", but it doesn’t say much about the high seas or the seabed that lies beyond our borders. Indeed, we used to believe that these areas were not worth exploiting or protecting, but scientific and technological advancements are opening up a world of possibilities. [...] >> Lire la tribune en ligne [en anglais] [...]