Cross-party MPs call on the UK Government to swiftly approve deal to protect worlds’ oceans

Government must end delay and protect the world’s oceans say cross-party politicians, calling on Ministers to approve a vital international agreement as soon as possible.

As the UN Ocean Conference in Nice closes, MPs and peers from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Environment have asked the government to swiftly submit its ratification of the Global Ocean Treaty to the United Nations.

Whilst Marine Minister Emma Hardy MP announced this week that government will introduce a bill by the end of the year to enable ratification of this treaty (also known as the High Seas Treaty or BBNJ agreement), faster action is needed to ensure the UK is not locked out of international negotiations.

The treaty will come into force once signed by 60 nations and these countries will take forward international negotiations on marine conservation beyond national borders. With 50 countries now having formally ratified the treaty – including France, Spain and Portugal – the UK seriously risks being left out of discussions, undermining our role as international leaders on marine protection.

The treaty is crucial to protecting marine life in parts of the ocean that lie beyond national borders, a key step in meeting targets to protect 30% of the seas by 2030.

The group of eleven parliamentarians calling for action includes Vice Chair Wera Hobhouse MP of the Liberal Democrats, Labour MPs Afzal Khan, Simon Opher and Alex Sobel, Ellie Chowns from the Green Party and peers including crossbencher Lord Cameron of Dillington.

These MPs and peers have written to Leader of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, asking her to make time for MPs to approve the agreement.

The plight of the world’s oceans has recently been highlighted by David Attenborough’s latest film “Ocean”. Launching the film last month, he said: "After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea."

The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, is home to most of earth’s biodiversity, and globally more than 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries by 2030. Unfortunately, society is taking more from the ocean than can be replenished, with 90% of big fish populations depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed.

International waters that will be protected by the Global Oceans are vulnerable to exploitation, including from industrial fishing and oil drilling. Currently, less than 1% of the high seas – which comprises almost two-thirds of the world’s ocean – is fully or highly protected from human activities.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Environment is the oldest and largest cross-party group working on environmental issues in Parliament.

You can read the group's letter to the Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP below.