A blog by Arianna Beeray, High Seas Youth Ambassador, on a recent BBNJ Workshop held in Trinidad and Tobago.
When we think about ocean conservation and governance, many people imagine marine biologists and government officials. Rarely do we imagine young people, especially those outside the marine sphere, engaging meaningfully in conversations about High Seas conservation. This is the reality I work towards challenging every day.
Too often, young people are excluded from critical spaces like politics and ocean governance, not because we lack interest, but because we are not invited, informed or seen as contributors. And on the other hand, youth tend to not be interested in a niche area unless they are in that field. Unless you are studying marine science or biology, these topics seem to be out of reach.
There is a serious lack of sensitization and outreach to youth in other disciplines. Last month, the High Seas Alliance organized a BBNJ workshop and film screening in Trinidad and Tobago. I was keen on getting involved in the organization of it to help bring more youth voices to the table–and across all disciplines–not just ministry officials, legal experts and marine scientists. In my experience, when it comes to advancing international law such as the High Seas Treaty, a multifaceted group is more valuable than a monotone one. A room full of diverse perspectives, legal, economic, youth, cultural and social allows us to approach the Treaty from every angle. After all, protecting the ocean isn’t the job of one sector but the collective responsibility of all generations.
I was very excited to see young people show up to the event. University students and youth advocates entered the conference room, ready to learn and engage in the critical conversation. In particular, I was surprised and deeply moved to meet a 15-year-old who was Miss Teen India Worldwide Trinidad and Tobago. She was curious about the legal realm of ocean governance. What surprised me even more was the level of interest and engagement of students of business management, human resource development, and accounting. These were not the typical participants you’d expect at a High Seas Treaty workshop and yet, they fully embraced the event, wanting to know how their skills could support ocean protection and how they can get more involved. Seeing a young person like myself so actively involved in this area made many young attendees feel more comfortable, inspired, and motivated to engage in ocean governance themselves. That moment reinforced something crucial, the ocean is everyone’s business. Youth interest and passion in an unrelated field reminded me of my own journey. I do not have a background in marine biology. I did not further my biology studies beyond high school. I studied Law. This was enough for me to understand the power and purpose of the High Seas Treaty. Ocean conservation is not just for marine scientists, it is for everyone which is why we placed an emphasis on multi-stakeholder engagement. The health of our ocean affects our economies, our rights, our cultures, and our futures. That means every one of us, lawyers, artists, farmers, policymakers, and yes, even teenage pageant queens, has a place in this movement.
One of the most powerful moments of the workshop was a screening of the documentary “OCEAN” with Sir David Attenborough. The visuals were stunning, the deep blues, the quiet strength of marine life, the beauty and fragility of ecosystems most of us will never see in person. My friend, a fellow law student, turned to me afterward and quietly said: “I felt like crying.” She wasn’t the only one. Many of the young attendees told me that the screening was one of the most emotional and memorable parts of the day. For youth, especially those not deeply embedded in environmental fields, that visual storytelling was a gateway. It made the High Seas real. It reminded us that this isn’t just about treaties and negotiation, it’s about life, and loss, and the responsibility we share to protect something bigger than ourselves. Screenings like that bridge the gap between policy and emotion. You cannot protect what you do not understand, and you won’t fight for what you don’t feel connected to.
This is about building that connection. Through platforms like GenSea, a global youth initiative powered by EarthEcho International, young people worldwide are coming together to defend our ocean. I am extremely proud to be part of that network and proud that youth in Trinidad and Tobago are joining the movement.
The ocean’s future cannot be determined without us. Young people are not just spectators, we are the players. We deserve a seat at the table. The BBNJ Agreement is not a distant legal document. It’s a living instrument for justice, resilience, and intergenerational equity.
This is a guest blog and may not necessarily represents the views and positions of the High Seas Alliance.