Climate and science correspondent
Getty imagesIrregular mining in the deep sea should not be allowed to go ahead, the head of the United Nations has warned.
“Deep C cannot become a wild waste.”
His words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared “oceans not for sale”.
This comment refers to the decision by President Trump in April to issue permits for the extraction of important minerals in international water.
Interest in extracting precious minerals is increasing, which is called the metallic “nodules” that occurs naturally on the seabed.
But marine scientists are worried about the loss that may occur.
“The ocean is not for sale. We are talking about a common shared good,” said President Macron. “I think this hunter is madness to initiate economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupts biodiversity, destroying it.”
The issue is one of the number of number on the agenda in France, including over-fishing, plastic pollution and climate change.
More than 2,000 scientists in the world met to review the latest data on the health of the ocean last week – they recommended the governments to meet this week to stop the discovery of deep sea while further research was done on the effects.
More than 30 countries support this post and call for a remidpaple – but President Trump has not withdrawn his executive order.
A treaty for our oceans
A major purpose of the United Nations Fine Conference, which lasts until Friday, has to achieve 60 countries to confirm a high sea treaty and thus implement it.
The agreement was done two years ago to put 30% international water in marine protected areas (MPAS) by 2030, in the hope that it would help fix the ecosystem.
President Macron announced in his initial speech that an additional 15 confirmed but it only brings to 47 total number.
The UK government has not yet confirmed the agreement, although on Monday it said that there is a ban on a “destructive” type of fishing that draws a large net with Caphylore Mpas can be extended in England,
Even if enough countries sign, there are concerns with environmentalists, including Sir David Attenborough, that there is nothing clear in the treaty to bend down in these MPAs.
Bottom trolling is one of the more destructive fishing practices that can accidentally kill large sea species.
