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Project

Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas

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Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas
The high seas make up about two-thirds of the world’s ocean, covering the vast expanses beyond the jurisdiction of any country.

Research has shown that the high seas hold some of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on Earth, supporting abundant fisheries, providing migratory routes for whales and sharks and harboring remarkable ecosystems such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life.

In June 2023, with extensive support from Pew, the United Nations adopted a new treaty establishing a legal framework to create a network of high seas marine protected areas—the equivalent of international parks at sea—and put in place standards, guidelines and a consistent process for assessing the environmental impacts of new high seas activities.

To help ensure that the ocean continues to provide ecosystem services and maintain resilience against threats such as climate change and overfishing, Pew is working in partnership with governments, scientists, regional and other bodies, and other key stakeholder groups to enable the rapid and effective implementation of the treaty once it enters into force. Pew’s focus in this collaborative effort is on establishing a path towards the creation of the first generation of high seas marine protected areas by 2030.

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Report

طريق إنشاء الجيل أالول من محميات مناطق يأعال البحار

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Report

تسُلط القاعدة العلمية الضوء على ع شة مواقع من شأنها المساعدة في حماية التنوع البيولوجي خارج نطاق المياه الوطنية

Data Visualization

Protect High Seas

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Data Visualization

Did you know that only 1% of the high seas have legal protections? Learn more about safeguarding this vital international ecosystem with the marine protected areas tool from Pew.

Issue Brief

Inside the New High Seas Treaty

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Issue Brief

On 20 September 2023, the United Nations opened its new agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction—also known as the BBNJ treaty or high seas treaty —for signature and ratification.

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Mesopelagic fishes
Issue Brief

High Seas Treaty Must Reflect Critical Role of Fish in Ecosystems

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Issue Brief

Members of the United Nations are negotiating a treaty that would enable the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), including the international waters known as the high seas.

Our Work

Video

Protect the High Seas

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The high seas—waters beyond any single country’s jurisdiction—cover more than half our planet’s surface. They are among the most biodiverse locations on Earth, harboring remarkable ecosystems and providing countless benefits for marine life and humanity alike. The problem? Right now, only 1% is protected.