South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne is backing efforts for the UK to ratify a Global Ocean Treaty to protect the world’s oceans.

The Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity (Ratification of Treaty) Bill is a Private Members Bill from Kevin Foster MP, presented in March, which will enable the government to swiftly ratify this Treaty in this Parliamentary session. Delaying ratification until after a General Election makes it unlikely the UK will be among the 60 countries needed to bring this treaty into force, and might put the UK’s strong legacy on global ocean protection at risk.

The UK government played a powerful role throughout the Global Ocean Treaty's negotiations and was one of the first countries to sign the treaty when it opened for signatures at the UN.

After the Bill receives Royal Assent, the government can use its prerogative powers to immediately complete ratification by depositing an instrument of ratification with the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Mr Dunne said:

“I am pleased to support this Bill to ensure the UK ratifies the Global Ocean Treaty as swiftly as possible.  

“We can still meet the globally-agreed goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, and the UK ratifying this treaty will send a powerful signal about how committed we are to protecting the ocean environment. 

“This would build on the very welcome announcement this week, from the UK government in partnership with government of South Georgia & the Sandwich Islands, that an additional 166,000km2 of ‘No Take Zones’ will protect an area in the South Atlantic 8 times the size of Wales from dangerous fishing activity.”

Photo: Philip Dunne MP with Kevin Foster MP, who is sponsoring the Private Members Bill