Australia signs landmark treaty that covers the world's high seas

A humpback whale and calf swim in the waters in Niue in this 2018 photo (AAP) Credit: Richard Sidey/AP

Australia has become one of the first in the world to sign UN High Seas Treaty, a landmark to protect vast swathes of the ocean which no country officially owns. Environmental groups say the treaty will help reverse biodiversity losses and ensure sustainable development, but there is still a long way to go before implementation.

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