UN to Adopt 1st High Seas Treaty June 19

The United Nations will adopt the world's first international treaty to protect the high seas on Monday.

According to the UN, the first treaty of its kind would establish a legal framework to extend swathes of environmental protections to international waters, which make up more than 60 percent of the world's oceans.

This high seas treaty will cover what is known as "the Area", shorthand for seabed and subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The Area comprises just over half of the planet's seabed.

The decision is seen as a huge step for the "historic" environmental accord after more than 15 years of discussions.

"It's a historic moment, but "it's appalling that it took so long," said Minna Epps, ocean team director of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

It's worth mentioning that the UN member states finally agreed on the text for the treaty in March after a flurry of final, marathon talks.