International Oceans Day Celebration Departs from France on Global Oceans Day
Title: Ocean Lovers Gather to Save the Deep Blue at U.N. Conference
Subtitle: The High Seas Treaty becomes a major focus as time ticks for the health of global oceans
Nice, France, is rolling out the red carpet for a star-studded cast of researchers, diplomats, and activists, all eager to save the ocean! The city's dazzling Bay of Angels hosted a parade of exploration boats from around the globe, signaling the beginning of the third U.N. Ocean Conference and World Oceans Day.
These seafaring teams were there to put the spotlight on the ocean's beauty and importance while urging world leaders to keep the ocean's value top-of-mind as decisions about the planet's future are made. This gathering of thousands is expected to stimulate discussions surrounding the growing threats to the ocean and the urgency of transforming promises into protection.
The United Nations has declared an emergency for the world's oceans, which are under a fiery onslaught from rising temperatures, plastic pollution, and overfishing. In fact, only 2.7% of the ocean is effectively protected from destructive activities like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining, significantly falling short of the global goal of 30% protection by 2030.
Some of the exciting vessels involved in the event included the Energy Observer, a solar-powered catamaran that covered the globe using renewable energy, producing hydrogen fuel onboard through electrolysis. Other standouts included France's Alfred Merlin, dedicated to underwater archaeology, the OceanXplorer, a billionaire-owned research yacht, and the WWF's Blue Panda, working hard to map and protect seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean Sea.
The primary goal of this whirlwind of ocean activities is to ratify the High Seas Treaty, initially adopted in 2023. This treaty would for the first time allow countries to set up marine protected areas in international waters, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean and are currently largely ungoverned. As per Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance, "The High Seas Treaty is crucial for protecting the ocean's biodiversity amidst this biodiversity and climate crisis."
However, enforcing marine protections in designated areas often leaves much to be desired. Many countries, including France, face criticism from environmental groups for weak regulations and continued industrial activity within their marine protected areas. As Sílvia Tavares, project manager at Oceano Azul Foundation, expressed, "The ambition isn't there, the speed isn't there, and the scale hasn't been there."
Countries are expected to announce new marine protected areas, as well as bans on destructive activities within their MPA networks, during the conference. The "Ocean Wonders" fleet will remain in Nice, available for public viewing, until the conference concludes.
While the High Seas Treaty gears up for its moment in the spotlight, it faces many challenges. But with growing international support and widespread recognition of the importance of ocean conservation, it is a vital step towards ensuring the ocean's survival in navigating the difficult waters ahead.
Hammerschlag reports for the Associated Press
Additional Readings:
- How 'Cali' became a slur among Vietnam's growing army of nationalists
- Iran claims without evidence that it took Israeli nuclear files
- No Supreme Court win, but Mexico pressures U.S. on southbound guns
[1]https://www.un.org/news/press/press-releases/UN-Ocean-Conference*-3rd-sessionBroadmultilateralism-and-urgent-action-for-ocean-conservation-and-sustainability-called-for08-June-2023- [2]https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_agreements.htm#UNCLOS3- [3]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04460-yThe potential for the High Seas Treaty to facilitate marine protected area establishment in international waters- [4]https://www.highseasalliance.org/initiatives/high-seas-treaty/High Seas Treaty: Background and U.S. position2023
- The High Seas Treaty, crucial for protecting the ocean's biodiversity amidst the ongoing biodiversity and climate crisis, aims to establish marine protected areas in international waters.
- Science and environmental-science played a significant role in the U.N. Ocean Conference, with researchers and activists advocating for the health-and-wellness of the global oceans.
- In the midst of the climate change crisis, California was notably absent from discussions about ocean protection at the U.N. Conference, yet the state has been active in addressing climate-change issues through various fitness-and-exercise and health-and-wellness initiatives.
- The ratification of the High Seas Treaty is a critical step in the environmental-science field, as it addresses the urgent need to preserve the ocean's beauty and importance in the face of growing threats like rising temperatures, plastic pollution, and overfishing.
