Wildlife

Ocean Treaty

The world's first international treaty on the high seas, set to be adopted by the United Nations on Monday, contains landmark tools for the conservation and management of international waters. International waters - outside the jurisdiction of any single state - cover more than 60% of the world's oceans.

Ocean ecosystems create half the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. Once adopted, the UN treaty will go into force 120 days after 60 countries have ratified it. The final version to be voted on has not yet been published.