UN members adopt first treaty to protect marine life in the high seas

(AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Members of the United Nations have adopted the first treaty to protect marine life in the high seas, with the UN’s chief hailing the agreement as giving the oceans “a fighting chance”.

Delegates from the 193 member nations burst into applause and stood up in a sustained standing ovation when Singapore’s ambassador on ocean issues, Rena Lee, who presided over the negotiations, banged her gavel after hearing no objections to the treaty’s approval.