News

Join the Wave in 2025: Call on Leaders to Ratify the High Seas Treaty

31 January, 2025

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.

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Join us! Caribbean Regional BBNJ Conference

21 January, 2025

The High Seas Alliance, in collaboration with the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat and EarthEcho International, is proud to host the Caribbean Regional BBNJ Conference. This virtual event aims to bring together diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations, youth, academics, indigenous communities, and policymakers, to explore the pivotal role of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty in securing the future of the Caribbean’s marine resources. As a region deeply intertwined with the ocean economy and dependent on healthy marine ecosystems, the Caribbean stands to benefit significantly from the BBNJ Treaty. 

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HSA Engagement at COP29

13 December, 2024

The High Seas Alliance played a pivotal role at COP29, championing the ocean’s importance in global climate solutions. From highlighting the High Seas Treaty to advocating for ambitious climate commitments, our engagement focused on ensuring the ocean remains central to addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Discover how we amplified member voices, participated in key discussions, and worked to drive progress for the ocean at this critical moment. Read the full recap of our activities and achievements.

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Become the next High Seas Youth Ambassador

18 November, 2024

By Sean Russell, Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International

Through the High Seas Youth Ambassador program, EarthEcho International and the High Seas Alliance are collaborating to provide a paid Ambassador experience to six youth ocean advocates (ages 17-22) in strategic locations around the world. Ambassadors will plan and execute innovative campaigns to build the public and political momentum needed to advance High Seas Treaty ratification.

Applications for the 2025 High Seas Youth Ambassador program are open through December 9, 2024.

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Empowering Youth for Ocean Conservation: Launching the High Seas Treaty Campaign at LCOY, India 2024

4 November, 2024

By Ajay Sawant

My journey into ocean activism began at an early age on the shores of Worli Beach in Mumbai. As a child, I would spend hours combing the sand for discarded plastic, which I later used to create colorful fish mosaics. It was my way of turning waste into something beautiful. As I grew older, my passion for the ocean only intensified. I learned to snorkel and, as I swam deeper into the water, I became increasingly fascinated with vibrant coral reefs. Each dive revealed more of the ocean’s wonders and its fragility. And what started as a childhood art project evolved into an unending commitment to protecting the very waters I loved exploring.

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High Seas Alliance Closing Statement for CBD COP16

3 November, 2024

After the successful adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at CBD CoP15 in 2022 and the High Seas Treaty in 2023—celebrated as a major multilateral achievement—it is astonishing that CBD CoP16 focused so much on preventing regression on past commitments, often without success. This was the first CBD CoP since the High Seas Treaty was adopted, and despite near universal support by countries, consensus decision-making hindered even a simple welcoming of this significant Treaty.

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GOVERNMENTS CALL FOR RATIFICATION OF HIGH SEAS TREATY TO CURB BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

28 October, 2024

FUNDING AND NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED TO ACCELERATE OCEAN PROTECTION

PRESS RELEASE

Cali, Colombia, 28 October 2024: Governments and ocean leaders meeting at the UN global nature summit called on all nations today to address the biodiversity crisis by swiftly ratifying1 the High Seas Treaty and preparing proposals for the first wave of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the High Seas to conserve and restore marine life as soon as the new Treaty enters into force. 

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HIGH SEAS MARINE PROTECTED AREA ACCELERATOR: fast-tracking effective ocean protection

24 October, 2024

The High Seas – the international waters that cover nearly half the planet – are some of the most biodiverse yet least protected parts of the world. A lack of governance has left this vast ocean area increasingly vulnerable to over-exploitation and other pressures. Currently, only 1.5% is safeguarded in marine protected areas (MPAs). 

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High Seas Alliance at CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia

11 October, 2024

From 21 October – 1 November 2024, an important global Biodiversity Summit will take place in Cali, Colombia. 

The 16th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) will be the first biodiversity COP since world governments agreed to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – a plan of action to protect at least 30 percent of land and sea by 2030 (30×30), the minimum scientists say is required to save life on Earth. 

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