International waters cover areas beyond 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the shore. They do not fall under jurisdiction of any state and have been subject to barely any restrictions on fishing and exploitation of marine resources. The agreed framework provides tools for the establishment and management of marine protected areas. It is envisaged to be critical in facilitating the pledge of the 2022 U.N. Biodiversity Conference (COP15) to preserve 30% of the land and water surface by 2030. The agreement also covers conditions of the use of marine genetic resources, which are increasingly thought to have commercial value.
Source: Written by Josef Skrdlik, 2023-03-10; https://www.occrp.org/en/daily//en/daily/17397-u-n-members-agree-on-a-landmark-treaty-to-protect-international-waters