News

Speaking for the Ocean: My Journey as a Youth Ambassador at OOC Busan

15 May, 2025

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.

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Delivering Ambition for the High Seas: Why PrepCom Meetings Matter

13 April, 2025

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. 

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[Joint Statement] Welcoming Korea’s Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement

14 March, 2025

[Joint Statement]

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).

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Why the High Seas Treaty is critical to the success of 30×30 in the ocean

4 March, 2025

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.

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HSA Submission to the EU Oceans Pact call for evidence

4 March, 2025

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:

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Young Ocean Advocates Unite for High Seas Treaty Ratification: 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassadors Announced

13 February, 2025

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.

 

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Calling all young voices in the Caribbean: Regional Essay Competition

3 February, 2025

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. 

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