The 10th Our Ocean Conference officially opened on April 28 at BEXCO, Busan, RO Korea. The High Seas Alliance welcomed delegates and participants at its booth with our Pacific High Seas Youth Ambassador Francine Valmaria Elisaia and EarthEcho International Youth Council Renz Nathaniel Luyao.
As the world gathers in Busan for the 10th Our Ocean Conference, April 28-30, the High Seas Alliance is focused on one urgent priority: accelerating the ratification of the High Seas Treaty. With the clock ticking to secure protection for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, this year’s conference is a pivotal moment to keep up the momentum.
Continue reading High Seas Alliance at the 10th Our Ocean Conference
On the opening day of the first Preparatory Commission (PrepCom 1) for the High Seas Treaty, the High Seas Alliance and a number of its members brought together delegates, policymakers, and civil society for a celebratory evening reception.
Continue reading Building the Foundation: On the Road to a Strong High Seas Treaty
A blog by Rizza Sacra-Dejucos, HSA Asia Regional Coordinator
As the Race for Ratification of the BBNJ Treaty is nearing towards the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, a parallel road is being paved to prepare for the set-up of the institutions and processes that will shape how the Treaty works in practice and its implementation. This track is ideally where the governments will lead the way to carve a new path to turn ambitions into actions to protect two-thirds of the ocean.
Continue reading Delivering Ambition for the High Seas: Why PrepCom Meetings Matter
On Thursday, March 13, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the “Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. With this, Korea has officially endorsed the ratification of the “Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (hereinafter referred to as the BBNJ Agreement).
Continue reading [Joint Statement] Welcoming Korea’s Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement
A Together For the Ocean Blog authored by HSA Director Rebecca Hubbard.
The High Seas – the entire ocean, seafloor and water column outside national jurisdictions – was for many years widely perceived as a lawless wilderness. And there are good reasons why. Since Hugo Grotius, one of history’s most famous legal scholars, established the “freedom of the seas” doctrine in 1609, these vast ocean areas have essentially belonged to no one, meaning everyone could freely fish, ship and conduct research in them.
Continue reading Why the High Seas Treaty is critical to the success of 30×30 in the ocean
The European Commission has launched the EU Oceans Pact to promote a holistic and integrated approach to ocean governance across all sectors and policies- internal and external. To shape this Pact, the Commission launched a call for evidence from stakeholders (deadline 17 February 2025), and HSA submitted the below submission with relation to the High Seas Treaty:
Continue reading HSA Submission to the EU Oceans Pact call for evidence
Washington, DC – EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance are excited to announce the selection of the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassadors. These seven dynamic young ocean advocates, ages 19-22, will represent diverse regions across the globe – Canada, Jamaica, the Maldives, the Philippines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zambia. Together, the Ambassadors will lead creative campaigns to rally public and political support for the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, the world’s first legally binding framework for protecting high seas biodiversity.
The High Seas Alliance in partnership with UNEP, is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Regional Essay Competition. This initiative seeks to engage youth and academic communities in the Caribbean to explore the significance of the High Seas and the potential impact of the BBNJ Treaty on ocean protection. By encouraging students to think critically about ocean conservation, we aim to foster advocacy for the sustainable management of marine resources.
Continue reading Calling all young voices in the Caribbean: Regional Essay Competition
The ocean needs your voice! This year marks a pivotal moment for the High Seas Treaty—a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect almost half of our planet. But for this landmark Treaty to enter into force, it must be ratified by at least 60 countries. Together, we can ensure this happens by the next United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June 2025.
We’re calling on people around the world to join the #RaceForRatification by writing a message to your country leaders. The messages from people from all over the world will be displayed on a map to show our powerful, united global call for action. Each message is a plea to leaders worldwide to ratify the Treaty and secure a healthy, thriving ocean for generations to come. Your messages will also be delivered to them at key moments throughout the year.
Continue reading Join the Wave in 2025: Call on Leaders to Ratify the High Seas Treaty
![[Joint Statement] Welcoming Korea’s Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement](https://highseasalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/angelo-pantazis-zsgiZnQtvsY-unsplash-150x150.jpg)
