Estimated read time: 4-5 minutesNEW YORK — Nearly 200 countries have agreed to a legally-binding "high seas treaty" to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet's surface, but have long been essentially lawless. It also covers environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities, such as deep sea mining, before they start and a pledge by signatories to share ocean resources. Major sticking points included nailing down the processes for creating marine protected areas and ensuring costs and benefits were shared equitably — especially as many developing countries may not have the technology or capacity to do their own scientific exploration of the high seas