After days of gruelling talks which went into overtime, more than 100 countries have agreed on a treaty to protect the high seas.
The legally binding pact, 15 years in the making, is crucial to an earlier pledge to safeguard a third of the world's land and sea by the end of the decade.
Only one percent of waters beyond national boundaries are currently protected.
US public policy group The Pew Charitable Trust senior manager Julian Jackson was at the UN talks in New York.
He spoke to Corin Dann.
