New Zealand, with a population of just five million, has an extensive exclusive economic zone exceeding 4 million square kilometers but faces challenges in sustainable ocean management. As the UN Ocean Conference convenes, the nation is urged to increase protections, currently below 1%, against practices like bottom-trawling. The ocean is a crucial resource for New Zealanders, many of whom live by the coast, and the country's rich biodiversity must be preserved for future generations. As geopolitical tensions rise, alignment with international law (UNCLOS) is critical for enforcement of these maritime rights.
New Zealand's exclusive economic zone spans more than 4m square kilometres, but only less than 1% of our country's oceans are highly protected.
As leaders gather in Nice for the UN Ocean Conference, the spotlight will again fall on whether countries are willing to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030.
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