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What is the High Seas Treaty and why is it needed?

A historic agreement to protect the world's oceans has been reached, following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the world's oceans into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature.

The last international agreement on ocean protection was signed 40 years ago in 1982 - the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. That agreement established an area called the high seas - international waters where all countries have a right to fish, ship and do research - but only 1.2% of these waters are protected.

Marine life living outside these protected areas has been at risk from climate change, overfishing and shipping traffic.

So what is the new High Seas Treaty? Rebecca Hubbard is the director of the High Seas Alliance.

(Photo: Sea turtle. Credit: Getty Images)

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3 minutes