The recent UN Ocean Conference saw significant pledges from nations, including Chile and Colombia, to establish more marine protected areas, contributing to a broader aim of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.
Ocean Conservation Takes Center Stage at UN Conference
Ocean Conservation Takes Center Stage at UN Conference
Countries commit to creating over 20 new marine protected areas as part of a global initiative to safeguard ocean ecosystems.
The recent UN Ocean Conference held in Nice, France, brought together nations in a collective effort to enhance marine ecosystem protection. Over 20 new marine protected areas across various coastal territories were pledged, marking a crucial step toward safeguarding ocean health. Countries such as Chile, Colombia, French Polynesia, Portugal, and Samoa were at the forefront of this initiative, which aims to ultimately protect 30% of the world's oceans by the year 2030.
Highlighting the impacts of such designations are remote coral atolls in the Caribbean and habitats vital to threatened marine species in regions like Tanya and around French Polynesia, which collectively cover an impressive 900,000 square kilometers. Well-known marine biologist Sylvia Earle emphasized the growing trend of ocean conservation, describing protecting the ocean as increasingly "fashionable."
However, the conference took place under a cloud of contrasting actions, notably from the United States, which only sent two observers while simultaneously reopening discussions on commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The US also faces scrutiny for potential unilateral deep-sea mining initiatives in international waters, raising concerns among environmental advocates.
France, in collaboration with Costa Rica, advocated for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, receiving commitment from four new countries, which brings the total to 37 supporting this vital protective measure. As nations move forward with commitments made at the conference, the hope is that enhanced marine protection will slow the alarming degradation of ocean ecosystems worldwide.
Highlighting the impacts of such designations are remote coral atolls in the Caribbean and habitats vital to threatened marine species in regions like Tanya and around French Polynesia, which collectively cover an impressive 900,000 square kilometers. Well-known marine biologist Sylvia Earle emphasized the growing trend of ocean conservation, describing protecting the ocean as increasingly "fashionable."
However, the conference took place under a cloud of contrasting actions, notably from the United States, which only sent two observers while simultaneously reopening discussions on commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The US also faces scrutiny for potential unilateral deep-sea mining initiatives in international waters, raising concerns among environmental advocates.
France, in collaboration with Costa Rica, advocated for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, receiving commitment from four new countries, which brings the total to 37 supporting this vital protective measure. As nations move forward with commitments made at the conference, the hope is that enhanced marine protection will slow the alarming degradation of ocean ecosystems worldwide.
