Greenpeace Urges Massive Support for the High Seas Treaty

Greenpeace is urging countries to demonstrate their commitment to the High Seas Conservation Treaty by signing it at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week. The NGO is calling for at least 60 countries to sign the treaty, which creates a legal framework for the establishment of marine protected areas. While signing the treaty does not require immediate ratification, it shows an intention to do so in the future. For the treaty to become legally binding, at least 60 countries must ratify it. Greenpeace has released a report highlighting the increasing threats to oceans, including expanded industrial fishing, ocean warming, acidification, pollution, shipping, and the potential deep sea mining industry. The report also reveals a 22.5% increase in high-seas fishing hours in areas designated for protection under the 30×30 framework.

The report emphasizes that the commercial fishing industry is becoming a major threat to oceans, with an 8.5% increase in high-seas fishing hours between 2018 and 2022. The most common gear types used in industrial fishing are longliners, squid jiggers, and trawlers. Overfishing with these methods has led to significant population declines in species such as Pacific leatherback turtles, bluefin tuna, and oceanic whitetip sharks. The 30×30 framework aims to protect and conserve at least 30% of the ocean and restore 30% of degraded areas by 2030. Currently, less than 1% of the high seas are adequately protected, and over 4.2 million square miles of the ocean must be protected each year to achieve the 30×30 goal.

Greenpeace’s push for countries to sign the High Seas Conservation Treaty at the UNGA is seen as a crucial step towards its implementation. The treaty, which creates a legal framework for marine protected areas, was adopted in June after two decades of negotiations. However, signing the treaty does not immediately make it legally binding, as ratification by at least 60 countries is required. Greenpeace’s report highlights the increasing threats to oceans, particularly from expanded industrial fishing, ocean warming, acidification, pollution, shipping, and the potential deep sea mining industry. The report also reveals a significant increase in high-seas fishing hours in areas designated for protection under the 30×30 framework. The 30×30 framework aims to protect and restore 30% of the ocean by 2030, but currently, less than 1% of the high seas are adequately protected.

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