Editor’s note: The content on this page was published before June 2023, when the United Nations adopted a legally binding treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, sometimes referred to as the high seas treaty.
The high seas make up two-thirds of the ocean—but less than 1% is protected.
These valuable waters, which lay beyond any national jurisdiction, are home to astonishing biodiversity and provide benefits to all life on earth. But harmful human activities have put the high seas at risk.
We can still turn the tide.
This year, global leaders have a unique opportunity to establish a high seas treaty. Together, we can ensure that our one and only ocean, our great global commons, is protected for generations to come.