British entertainment and environmental figures are urging the UK government to swiftly ratify the Global Ocean Treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty. As the pivotal UN Ocean Conference unfolds in Nice this week, 49 states have already ratified the agreement, yet the UK remains conspicuously absent from this crucial list.
A coalition of household names, including Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Bonnie Wright, Dan Smith, Cel Spellman, Meera Sodha, and Mya-Rose Craig, have issued a joint appeal to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. They are pressing for the immediate signing of the Global Ocean Treaty into UK law, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged to support the legislation before the summit concludes on Friday, June 13.
Their collective statement emphasizes the critical role of healthy oceans for all life on Earth, highlighting the unprecedented threats they face. The Treaty is seen as the best opportunity to achieve the scientific consensus of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, a goal deemed essential for marine life to survive and thrive. The signatories expressed disappointment that the UK arrived at the conference "empty handed" while other nations are actively committing to ocean protection.
Currently, 49 states plus the European Union have ratified the Treaty, including 14 EU countries. A total of 60 states are required for the Treaty to enter into force, a threshold that could be met as early as this week. Greenpeace UK's senior oceans campaigner, Chris Thorne, criticized the UK government for its delay, stating that despite having 20 months, it has not even begun the parliamentary process.
The UN Ocean Conference (June 9-13) is a significant event for global ocean protection. While the UK government recently announced domestic ocean protection measures, international action through the Treaty is urgently needed. Activists are also calling for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining and a full ban on destructive fishing practices in all UK marine protected areas.
