High seas treaty gets green light

UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Friday giving a green light to develop a new treaty for the conservation of marine life in the high seas.

The resolution, adopted by consensus on Friday, launches the first global treaty process related to the oceans in over two decades and the first on the protection and sustainable use of animal and plant life in sea areas beyond the territorial jurisdiction of any country.

It authorizes a preparatory committee to meet in 2016 and 2017 and make recommendations on provisions for a legally binding legal instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea — and the General Assembly. It says the 193-member world body will decide in 2018 on convening a formal treaty negotiating conference.

The resolution follows a commitment by world leaders at the Rio+20 environment conference in Brazil in 2012 to address the protection of the high seas.

Peggy Kalas, coordinator of the High Seas Alliance comprising 30 groups that campaigned for the resolution, said the process will hopefully lead to a treaty and a major shift in the way oceans and marine life are protected and managed.

“The high seas account for nearly half our planet — the half that has been left without law or protection for far too long,” said Sifa Tsenikli of Greenpeace. “A global network of marine reserves is urgently needed to bring life back into the oceans — this new treaty should make that happen.”

Elizabeth Wilson, director of international ocean policy at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said the commitment of world leaders shouldn’t be underestimated.

“Launching these negotiations marks the beginning of a new era in ocean conservation,” she said.

RICHARD BROOKS/THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS VIA AP FLEXING MUSCLES. Columns of black smoke rise from two Vietnamese boats in the waters off Palau Friday, June 12. The tiny Pacific nation of Palau, fighting a rising tide of illegal fishing in its waters, set fire to the four boats of Vietnamese caught...