Fishing rights, funding for marine protection programs in developing countries and controversial plans to exploit resources in Arctic waters are the main sticking points in the negotiations. Greenpeace warned that unless ministers convene an emergency meeting in 2022 to conclude negotiations, the High Ambition Coalition group of nations and the United States will have “failed in their commitment” to finalize an oceans treaty this year.
Negotiations have now been suspended, but hopes remain that new negotiations can be scheduled before the COP15 biodiversity summit in Montreal in December, which will examine similar proposals to extend protected areas for nature.
