Sir David Attenborough expressed his alarm to Prince William regarding the devastating impact of certain fishing practices on the world’s oceans.
This conversation precedes a crucial UN Oceans conference commencing on Monday, where global leaders will convene to address escalating threats to marine ecosystems, including plastic pollution, climate change, and overfishing.
A key objective is the ratification of the High Seas Treaty by 60 countries, enabling the protection of 30% of the ocean through designated protected areas—a goal established two years prior.
Attenborough strongly condemned the damage inflicted on the deep ocean floor, drawing parallels to unacceptable land-based practices.
These concerns were highlighted in an interview released Saturday, conducted at the premiere of his new documentary, *Ocean*, last month. The documentary underscores the detrimental effects of methods like bottom trawling on marine life and the ocean’s capacity to sequester carbon.
The UN Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Nice will bring together governments, charities, and scientists to accelerate action on critical marine issues.
Sir David expressed hope that the conference attendees will recognize the ocean’s vital importance to global citizens.
The ocean’s significance is undeniable; it constitutes the largest ecosystem, contributes an estimated $2.5 trillion to the global economy, and provides up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe.
A primary UN goal is securing sufficient support, including UK commitment, for the High Seas Treaty’s implementation.
Three years ago, countries pledged to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, encompassing both national and international waters.
The 2023 High Seas Treaty addressed the management of international waters, establishing a framework for collaborative efforts to designate one-third of these waters as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
However, only 32 countries have ratified the treaty; 60 are required for its enactment.
Concerns persist among scientists and NGOs regarding the effectiveness of MPAs while practices like bottom trawling remain permitted within them.
Dr. Amanda Vincent, Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of British Columbia, highlighted the damaging effects of bottom trawling in an interview with BBC’s Inside Science.
According to Oceana and the Environment Audit Committee (EAC), bottom trawling is currently allowed in 90% of UK MPAs, prompting calls for a ban.
Conversely, some fishing communities argue that bottom trawling, when conducted responsibly, is an efficient food source.
Scientific evidence suggests that targeted restrictions can foster fish stock recovery and long-term industry benefits.
The conference was convened due to UN concerns about irreparable ocean damage, particularly from climate change. Professor Callum Roberts of the University of Exeter emphasized the ocean’s crucial role in mitigating climate change impacts, absorbing excess heat and greenhouse gases.
He highlighted the severe consequences of the ocean’s inability to absorb this excess heat, leading to drastically increased global temperatures.
This excess heat significantly impacts marine life, as evidenced by the widespread coral bleaching and mortality documented by Dr. Jean-Pierre Gattuso of the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche and co-chair of the One Ocean Science Congress (OOSC).
The OOSC, a gathering of 2,000 scientists, assessed ocean health data and provided recommendations to governments, including a cessation of deep-sea activities.
A highly contentious issue is deep-sea mining. Despite ongoing international discussions, President Trump authorized mining in international waters, a move criticized by China and France as a violation of international law.
Scientists caution against commercial activities due to limited understanding of deep-sea ecosystems.
Professor Peter Haugan, Co-chair of the International Science Council Expert Group on the Ocean, stressed the need for precautionary measures given the limited scientific knowledge.
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