The historic High Seas agreement reached on Saturday at the UN will see at least 30% of the oceans placed in marine protected areas by 2030. Belgium, which is part of the group of countries defining themselves as “Blue Leaders”, is ready to host the secretariat of this future treaty, North Sea Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne stressed on Sunday.
Once the new treaty comes into force after being formally adopted, signed and then ratified by enough countries, will allow for the very creation of marine protected areas in international waters.
The agreement reached on Saturday is “a crucial step for all those who care about the oceans,” Van Quickenborne said. “The treaty is to the ocean what the 2015 Paris agreement is to the climate.”
The Minister emphasised that Belgium will do its utmost to ensure the rapid creation of the first protected area on the high seas.
