A/RES/70/235 Oceans and the law of the sea have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 229. Calls upon States to strengthen, in a manner consistent with international law, in particular the Convention, the conservation and management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems and national policies in relation to marine protected areas; 230. Recalls that in “The future we want”, States reaffirmed the importance of area-based conservation measures, including marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on best available scientific information, as a tool for conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components, and noted decision X/2 of the tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, that by 2020, 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are to be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures; 93 231. Encourages States, in this regard, to further progress towards the establishment of marine protected areas, including representative networks, and calls upon States to further consider options to identify and protect ecologically or biologically significant areas, consistent with international law and on the basis of the best available scientific information; 232. Reaffirms the need for States to continue and intensify their efforts, directly and through competent international organizations, to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on the best scientific information available; 233. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of marine areas that may require protection, in the light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the us e of diverse approaches and tools, such as ecosystem approaches and the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law, as reflected in the Convention, and based on scientific information, including representative networks; 18 234. Recalls that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its ninth meeting, adopted scientific criteria for ide ntifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas in need of protection in open ocean waters and deep-sea habitats and scientific guidance for selecting areas to establish a representative network of marine protected areas, including in open ocean waters and deep-sea habitats, 101 notes the ongoing work under the Convention on Biological Diversity on the application of the scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas through the organization of a series of regional workshops, and also recalls that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has developed guidance for the identification of vulnerable _______________ 101 United Nations Environment Programme, document UNEP/CBD/COP/9/29, annex I, decision IX/20, annexes I and II. 40/53