Why the High Seas Treaty Matters

Why the High Seas Treaty matters

For decades, the high seas were governed by a comfortable illusion: that “freedom of the seas” was a neutral principle rather than a license for whoever had the ships, the satellites, and the patience for paperwork. That illusion has finally been interrupted. On Jan. 17, 2026, the High Seas Treaty—the United Nations Agreement on Biodiversity […]...Keep on reading: Why the High Seas Treaty matters

Global treaty to protect ocean life

ON January 17, the first world’s global treaty to protect ocean life in international waters entered into force. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in a statement highlighted that the treaty brings into effect legally binding rules for the sustainable use and management of marine resources in the high seas. Once known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Mari…

Celebrating Major Wins for Marine Wildlife and Habitats with High Seas Treaty, CITES Protections, and Trafficking Seizures

One morning in 2018, I was standing in a small hotel conference room in Dakar, Senegal, getting ready for the first day of a week-long course for customs officials across the region. It was already hot and stuffy. I set out training manuals while I waited for Charles and some experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to arrive. Charles is a dynamic wildlife law enforcement trainer with decades of experience. He worked with Born Free USA on…

The High Seas Treaty Enters into Force: Implications for Marine Protected Areas and Maritime Spatial Planning | Submariner Network for Blue Growth

For the first time, States have agreed on international mechanisms to designate marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction, alongside strengthened environmental impact assessments, capacity building provisions, and benefit-sharing arrangements for marine genetic resources. Why this matters for MPAs and MSP This global development directly connects to the work of the SUBMARINER Network, particularly across projects focuse…