The following is a published speech delivered at the Celebration of the Ratification of the High Seas treaty in Australia’s Federal Parliament, Canberra, Australia (23.06.2026) by Alyssa Seckinger-Crow, High Seas Alliance Youth Ambassador for Australia. *Please note Australia has not officially deposited their ratification instrument to the United Nations, but it’s expected to do so in the near future.
Continue reading Beyond Ratification: Bringing the Next Generation into the High Seas
One of the most striking moments for me at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa was realizing that conversations about the High Seas Treaty have fundamentally changed.
A blog by Gabriela Casuso, High Seas Youth Ambassador
I still remember the first meeting with the 2026 High Seas Ambassadors cohort. For me, it was more than just an introduction; it felt like the start of something bigger than ourselves. A group of young people from different parts of the world, united by our concern for a place most of us might not physically reach, yet all of us depend on: the High Seas.
Continue reading Voices of the High Seas of Colombia: where youth, ocean, and urgency meet
By Parker Shane Manalaysay, Philippines
As we step into 2026, the year the High Seas Treaty officially enters into force, I find myself reflecting on what this milestone means for young people everywhere. This isn’t just a policy victory but a call to action. And moments like our recent event in Cebu remind me why youth engagement matters now more than ever. We are not only inheriting the ocean’s future but we are actively shaping it.
Continue reading Bringing the High Seas to Cebu: Inspiring the Next Wave of Ocean Leaders
A blog by Divan N. Joseph, High Seas Youth Ambassador
When I became a High Seas Youth Ambassador for Tanzania, my biggest motivation was to understand how much people in my community know about the ocean areas beyond national boundaries, the High Seas and why these waters matter for our future. Tanzania is a coastal country with a deep connection to the ocean through culture, livelihoods and identity. Yet, I often wondered whether the global conversation about protecting the High Seas had reached local communities, especially young people and those whose lives depend directly on the ocean. That simple curiosity inspired a community awareness study in Msasani Ward, Dar es Salaam, which ended up becoming a meaningful learning journey.
A blog by Autone Mululuma, High Seas Youth Ambassador, Zambia
I bet you would think that if you were someone who had never experienced war, you could never speak peace into broken lands. Likewise, as someone who had never seen or felt the ocean, I had never imagined that I would one day talk about it, let alone advocate for its protection. But here I am, and I’ve loved it ever since!
Continue reading Raising waves from the heart of Zambia: My Story as a High Seas Youth Ambassador
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.
Continue reading We are not the Spectators, We are the Players
A blog by Ailars David, Hub Leader and founder, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania
The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), held from 9th to 13th June 2025 in Nice, France, marked a historic moment in global ocean governance. The conference became the stage where the international community celebrated reaching 50 ratifications of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, commonly referred to as the High Seas Treaty. This milestone moved the Treaty significantly closer to its official entry into force reaching 50 ratifications and reinforcing global commitment to protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Continue reading Youth Involvement in the BBNJ: Reflections from UNOC 3 and the Road Ahead
My experience at the Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea was definitely one for the books. As the Oceania-Pacific High Seas Youth Ambassador under EarthEcho International and High Seas Alliance, my main goal is to represent Pacific youth voices in High Seas discussions and to continually advocate for the importance of the swift ratification of the High Seas Treaty across the Pacific region. However, at the OOC, I was a High Seas youth representative for all countries–this was an extremely humbling and honourable opportunity for me.
Continue reading Speaking for the Ocean: My Journey as a Youth Ambassador at OOC Busan
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.
