Secciones

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.

But the high seas lack consistent and effective oversight. A patchwork of rules and regulations provides little to protect marine life from commercial activities such as fishing, oil and gas exploration and deep-sea mining, all of which are expanding.

The designation of marine protected areas and reserves—the equivalent of national parks at sea—would be a good first step toward providing the needed protection. In an area that is part of the global commons, the challenge starts with establishing an international legal instrument—the biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction treaty—to create high seas reserves. This treaty can fill critical governance gaps and ensure effective management of high seas marine resources.

Pew is working to meet that challenge, primarily though the United Nations, which has committed to negotiate an international treaty to protect the high seas.

Report

Un camino hacia la creación de la primera generación de áreas protegidas en altamar

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Report

Más allá del horizonte, a más de 200 millas náuticas de la costa, se extiende un área del océano que se conoce como altamar. Estas aguas, que se encuentran fuera de la jurisdicción de cualquier nación, conforman aproximadamente las dos terceras partes del océano y cubren casi la mitad de la superficie del planeta.

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.

United Nations Must Finalize High Seas Treaty in 2023
United Nations Must Finalize High Seas Treaty in 2023

United Nations Must Finalize High Seas Treaty in 2023

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The high seas—the ocean area beyond the jurisdiction of any country—covers two-thirds of the ocean and is home to a wealth of biodiversity. And yet only 1% of the high seas is protected. Illegal fishing, overfishing, new and emerging activities such as geoengineering, and climate change are among the many threats to high seas marine life.

Lancet fish
Mesopelagic fishes
Issue Brief

El tratado de altamar debe reflejar el rol crítico de los peces en los ecosistemas marinos

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Issue Brief

Miembros de las Naciones Unidas están negociando un tratado que haría posible la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad en las áreas fuera de la jurisdicción nacional (ABNJ, por sus siglas en inglés), incluidas las aguas internacionales conocidas como alta mar.

Our Work

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High Seas Treaty Would Bring Needed Protection

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What Are the High Seas?

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High Seas: U.N. Has One Chance To Get it Right