Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea
Abstract
In New York on the 4th March 2023, governments meeting at the United Nations in New York reached agreement on key substantive issues for a new Treaty to protect High Seas marine life. The High Seas, the area of ocean that lies beyond countries’ national waters, is the largest habitat on Earth and home to millions of species. With currently just over 1% of the High Seas protected, the new Treaty will provide a pathway to establish marine protected areas in these waters. It is also a key tool to help deliver the recently agreed Kunming-Montreal target of at least 30% protection of the world’s ocean by 2030 that was just agreed to in December- the minimum level of protection scientists warn is necessary to ensure a healthy ocean. This agreement follows from and aligns with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed at COP 15, placing 30% of oceans into protected areas and increasing funding for marine conservation. Global commitments to protecting oceans are integral to reaching the goals of the GBF, especially since oceans make up over two-thirds of global surface area and absorb over 25% of the world’s annual CO2 emissions. The treaty is a step towards addressing the linked climate, nature and biodiversity crises.The new Treaty will bring ocean governance into the 21st century, including establishing modern requirements to assess and manage planned human activities that would affect marine life in the High Seas as well as ensuring greater transparency. This will greatly strengthen the effective area-based management of fishing, shipping and other activities that have contributed to the overall decline in ocean health.