UK to legislate for UN High Seas Treaty by end of year

THE UK will introduce legislation by the end of the year to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty, the Government has announced.

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Marine Minister Emma Hardy said on Tuesday that the Government will introduce a bill to enable ratification of the pact to establish protected areas in international waters.

The ocean treaty, which was agreed by 193 countries two years ago, will not come into force until ratification by 60 countries, but just over half of that number have done so.

The UK Government is among those that have been previously criticised by environmentalists for not yet ratifying the treaty or announcing a timetable to introduce the legislation required.