A new treaty agreed on by countries earlier this month could pave the way for better protection of the high seas, which lie beyond 200 nautical miles (370km) from any nation’s coastline.
Currently, more than 60 per cent of the ocean falls outside the national jurisdiction of individual countries, and of this, only 1 per cent has been protected.
The ocean has a great influence on the very existence of a small island state like Singapore, but beyond that, the new treaty could also represent new opportunities and risks for the country.Singapore has commercial interests in the deep sea, which could be affected by the new treaty. Deep sea mining in waters beyond national jurisdictions is regulated by the ISA, another United Nations body, which also sets regulations and recommendations for environmental impact assessments for deep sea mining.
But this will not apply to activities already regulated by existing bodies, such as deep sea mining, Dr Lyons said. This participation is key, given that the fate of the oceans are intimately intertwined with the economies and societies of countries surrounded by sea, such as maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific Island countries.
For example, biological oceanography — the study of how the ocean’s plants and animals interact with the marine environment — could help to provide policy-relevant insights on various issues. Shipping issues are handled by the Maritime and Port Authority, while the National Parks Board governs and manages the nation’s coastal and marine biodiversity.
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