Chile Becomes the World’s First Country to Ratify the Global Ocean Treaty

Chile became the world’s first country to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty that aims to conserve marine biodiversity in international waters and preserve 30% of the high seas by 2030.

Foreign Minister of Chile Alberto van Klaveren said that it confirms the oceanic vocation that Chile has had over the years. Chile even offered Valparaiso, 110 km from Santiago, as the headquarters of the secretariat of the agreement.

Environmental groups have long pushed for this Treaty, which is essential for saving the oceans threatened by all kinds of pollution, global warming, climate crisis, and new technologies that have led to deep mining and more intensive fishing techniques.

International waters are shared by all nations and account for at least two-thirds of the total Seas and oceans on the Earth. They are managed under a series of loose agreements and international organisations’ laws without clear jurisdiction and lack of coordination with inadequate standards for their protection.

Also called the High Seas Treaty, it ensures that the environmental impact of activities in the seas and oceans is considered. It also facilitates cooperation among nations about maritime technologies.

It also creates a framework for sharing the benefits from the international waters, comprising marine genetic resources- species that can give patentable genes for use in medicine, etc.

However, the Treaty must be ratified by 60 nations to enter into force. This is expected to happen before the UN Ocean Conference, to be held in France in June 2025.

Greenpeace spokesperson appreciated Chile for taking the first step and urged other countries to join soon.

References: Greenpeace.org

Chile Becomes the World’s First Country to Ratify the Global Ocean Treaty appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News