Latest news with #MarineResources
CBS News
12-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Abandoned 96-foot rusty, yellow submarine removed from waters off Florida Keys, officials say
A 96-foot rust-covered yellow derelict submarine was removed from the waters off the Florida Keys, near Marathon, in one of the most unusual and challenging projects in the county's derelict vessel removal program, Monroe County officials said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission defines a derelict vessel as one that is wrecked, junked or in substantially dismantled condition in Florida waters. The county said the operation was carried out safely and efficiently by a pre-qualified marine contractor under the coordination of the Monroe County Marine Resources Office. "Derelict vessels, whether a small skiff or a massive submarine, pose serious threats to the environment, boater safety and navigation," Senior Administrator for Marine Resources Brittany Burtner said in a statement. "Removing this submarine is not only a win for our waterways, but also a reminder of the importance of prevention." According to Monroe County officials, 134 derelict vessels have been removed from Keys waters in the first six months of 2025 through a partnership with the FWC. The county also promotes FWC's Vessel Turn-In Program, which allows owners to surrender at-risk vessels before they become derelict. Officials said two significant upcoming removals include a shrimp boat off Islamorada and a grounded boat off Bahia Honda State Park. The removal of those vessels has been scheduled within the next week, weather permitting, officials said.
News24
15-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
What is the High Seas Treaty and why does it matter?
There has been much hype about the United Nations High Seas Treaty at the United National Ocean Conference happening in Nice this week. But what are the High Seas and why are they important? And what will the Treaty achieve? Dr Judy Mann explains. What are the High Seas and why are they important? Extending 370 kilometres offshore is the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of each nation with a coastline. This is the part of the ocean that each coastal nation has the right to exploit and the responsibility to manage. The rest of the ocean is referred to as the High Seas. Collectively covering almost half of the planet, the High Seas are all the parts of the ocean that are not 'owned' by any nation – the areas beyond territorial waters. These vast stretches of ocean are incredibly important to humanity. They act as a carbon sink for about a quarter of the carbon dioxide generated by burning fossil fuels, they provide about half of the oxygen we need to breathe, and they provide fish and other marine resources to feed billions of people. In fact, the health of the High Seas is critical for the health of humanity. Right now, only about 1% of the High Seas are protected. READ | EXPLAINER | What will the UN high seas treaty mean for protecting the ocean? The High Seas have always been a 'free for all' - massive stretches of ocean where every country has the right to navigate, catch fish, lay submarine cables and pipelines and do research. But the resources of the High Seas – the fish and other biological resources, as well as the minerals in the seabed belong to all of us – not only the nations rich enough to exploit them. The world needed a system to manage the High Seas in a way that is fair and equitable to everyone, and that benefits all of humanity. What is the High Seas Treaty? After more than 10 years of negotiation, the member states of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction finally reached consensus and the High Seas Treaty was signed in New York City, US on 4 March 2023. By signing the Treaty, nations acknowledge the rights and responsibilities of all to act as stewards to protect the ocean for current and future generations. What will the Treaty achieve? The High Seas Treaty is a legally binding document in which all member states commit to the conservation and sustainable use of the High Seas. While the Treaty will not directly help nations to deliver against the 30x30 global protection target, it does provide a framework for establishing Marine Protected Areas in the High Seas. The Treaty also addresses how to modernise environmental impact assessments to ensure better consistency in the measurement of the impact of human activities on the ocean. The sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources and capacity building and technology transfer are other focus areas of the Treaty. The Treaty also contains measures to protect traditional knowledge and acknowledge the contribution of local communities. What now? The signing of the Treaty was step one – now we need ratification by at least 60 member states and then implementation needs to happen. This is a complex task and one that has been ongoing since 2023. So far in Nice this week, 20 countries have ratified the treaty, joining the 31 countries and the EU which have already ratified it. So, nine to go! To date 135 countries have signed the Treaty, including South Africa. South Africa has not yet ratified it. Signature is the first step by a country that shows its intention to be bound by the terms of the treaty. Ratification is the formal approval of the treaty by a country's government. Signature is the first step, while ratification means that the country is serious as it legally binds the country to the terms of the treaty. Both ratification and signature are crucial in ensuring that international agreements are legally binding and enforceable. Ratification is important, but without the true commitment of every nation, all the money in the world will not make the Treaty a success. What is needed is a deep acknowledgement that caring for the ocean is the only way to ensure that our children will inherit a habitable planet, followed by true commitment and actions to implement the Treaty as soon as possible. Dr Judy Mann is executive for strategic projects at Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
