Our Oceans: The Fight for The Last Frontier

Every single night, billions of tons of sea creatures perform what scientists call the "biological pump." Without this, atmospheric CO2 could be 200 parts per million higher, our planet 3C warmer.

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And why the fight for our planet's last frontier might actually be winnable

Picture this: a wilderness so vast it covers nearly half the planet's surface, teeming with life that literally keeps our climate stable, yet completely lawless. No rules, no protection, no oversight. Just a free-for-all where the biggest players strip-mine the ecosystem while taxpayers foot the bill.

Welcome to the high seas—and yes, it's exactly as dystopian as it sounds.

But here's the thing that should make you sit up and pay attention: after decades of this aquatic anarchy, we're suddenly on the verge of something that looked impossible just a few years ago. The first real attempt at governing these waters is about to become international law, and it's happening faster than anyone expected.

The Biological Pump That Keeps Us Alive

Before we dive into the politics, let's talk about what we're actually fighting for out there. The high seas aren't just empty water—they're running the planet's life support systems in ways most people never think about.

Every single night, billions of tons of sea creatures perform what scientists call the "biological pump." Fish, squid, and other organisms swim up from the deep ocean's twilight zone to feed near the surface, then return to the depths where they excrete carbon-rich waste. It's a daily commute that locks away massive amounts of carbon that would otherwise be heating our atmosphere.

How massive? Without this constant cycling, atmospheric CO2 could be 200 parts per million higher, making our planet three degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. These creatures are literally preventing runaway climate change through their bathroom habits.

Then there's the "nutrient pump"—massive animals like sperm whales and giant tuna that dive deep to feed, then return to fertilize surface waters with their waste. They're the ocean's gardeners, boosting the phytoplankton that form the base of marine food webs and suck up even more CO2.

This isn't just beautiful nature poetry. These are quantifiable, critical planetary processes. And we've been treating them like they don't exist.

The $4.2 Billion Subsidy for Destruction

Here's where the story gets infuriating in that special way that only modern capitalism can deliver: most high seas fishing isn't even profitable without massive government subsidies. We're talking $4.2 billion in taxpayer money in 2014 alone, supporting an industry that generates maybe $5.6 billion in profits while devastating ecosystems that provide trillions in climate services.

The math is obscene. Less than 6% of global fish catch comes from the high seas, but the ecological damage is catastrophic. Long-line fishing kills hundreds of thousands of seabirds and thousands of sea turtles annually as "bycatch." Over 120,000 fish aggregation devices—essentially floating fish traps—are deployed each year, with up to 90% abandoned to become ghost nets that kill marine life for decades.

And who benefits? Six regions land about 80% of high seas catch, mostly wealthy nations. Meanwhile, the ocean's oxygen levels have dropped 2% in the last 50 years, forcing species like tuna and sharks into shallower waters where they're easier to catch and slower to reproduce.

It's a system designed to extract maximum short-term profit while externalizing all long-term costs onto the planet and future generations. Sound familiar?

The Treaty That Almost Wasn't

This is why the High Seas Treaty—officially the "Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement"—matters so much. It's the first legally binding international agreement specifically designed to protect marine life in international waters.

The concept is straightforward: create a legal framework for countries to work together establishing marine protected areas, require environmental impact assessments before potentially harmful activities, and share benefits from marine genetic resources. Think of it as zoning laws for the ocean's Wild West.

But getting here required navigating the same international political dynamics that make climate action so frustratingly slow. Every country wants the benefits of ocean protection, but nobody wants to give up their piece of the extraction economy.

What's remarkable is the sudden momentum. As of June 2024, we're at 49 ratifications out of the 60 needed for the treaty to enter force. Eighteen countries ratified in a single day. The UN Secretary-General called the pace "record-breaking" compared to other international treaties.

Why This Time Feels Different

I've covered enough environmental treaties to be deeply skeptical of international agreements. They're usually long on promises and short on enforcement, with plenty of loopholes for bad actors.

But there are reasons to think this one might actually work. First, the science is crystal clear in ways it wasn't for earlier environmental agreements. We can quantify exactly what these ecosystems do for planetary stability, and the economic arguments for protection are getting stronger as climate costs mount.

Second, the constituency for ocean protection is broader than traditional environmentalism. Coastal communities facing sea level rise, fishing industries watching stocks collapse, insurance companies calculating climate risk—they all have skin in the game now.

Third, the technical solutions exist. Satellite monitoring can track illegal fishing in real-time. Genetic techniques can identify the origin of fish products. Renewable energy is making ocean-based industries less dependent on fossil fuels.

The Real Test Comes Next

But here's the catch that should keep us humble: getting to 60 ratifications is just the beginning. Once the treaty enters force, countries have one year to hold their first Conference of Parties meeting, where they'll hash out the actual operational details.

Only countries that have ratified by then get voting rights on those foundational decisions. So there's a real incentive not just to be among the first 60, but to ratify quickly enough to shape the rules.

This is where the rubber meets the road on international cooperation. Will wealthy nations provide the funding needed for enforcement? Will developing countries get meaningful support for implementation? Will the marine protected areas actually protect, or become paper parks with no real oversight?

The Radical Alternative

Some scientists are proposing something even more ambitious: permanently closing all international waters to extractive industries. No fishing, no mining, no oil and gas. Period.

It sounds extreme until you look at the numbers. High seas fishing provides minimal global food security, mostly benefits wealthy nations, and is kept alive by subsidies. Meanwhile, a full closure could allow fish stocks to recover and spill over into national waters where most countries actually do their fishing.

The ecological benefits would be enormous. Full ecosystem recovery, strengthened climate regulation, restored nutrient cycling. It's a vision of the high seas not as a resource to be managed, but as a planetary life support system to be protected.

Whether that's politically possible is another question. But the fact that serious scientists are proposing it shows how far the conversation has shifted.

What You Can Actually Do

Here's the part where I usually get depressed about individual action versus systemic change. But ocean protection is one area where citizen pressure actually moves the needle on international policy.

Countries care about their environmental reputation in ways that affect ratification decisions. Public pressure helped push the 18-country ratification surge. Keep pushing your representatives to ratify and fund implementation.

Support organizations doing the technical work of monitoring and enforcement. The High Seas Alliance, Greenpeace, and others are building the infrastructure that makes treaties work in practice.

And pay attention to the ongoing negotiations. The first Conference of Parties will determine whether this treaty becomes transformative ocean governance or another feel-good document with no teeth.

The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher

We're living through the sixth mass extinction, and the ocean is ground zero. Coral reefs are bleaching globally, fish stocks are collapsing, and the biological pumps that regulate our climate are weakening.

But unlike so many environmental crises, this one has a clear solution path. Protect the high seas, let the ecosystems recover, and they'll help stabilize the climate while supporting more sustainable fisheries in national waters.

The High Seas Treaty isn't perfect, but it's the best shot we've had at governing the largest ecosystem on Earth. With 49 countries already committed and momentum building, we might actually be witnessing the end of the oceanic Wild West.

The question is whether we'll seize this moment or let it slip away like so many others. The biological pumps are still running, but they won't wait forever.

References:

High Seas Treaty gains momentum as 18 new countries pledge support

Turning the tide on ocean conservation

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01545-7

Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever

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STUDY MATERIALS

1. Briefing Document

I. Executive Summary

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), represents a critical, legally binding international effort to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. These waters, beyond the jurisdiction of any single country, comprise nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half the planet's surface. Despite their vastness, the high seas are under severe and increasing pressure from overfishing, climate change, and the emerging threat of deep-sea mining. The treaty aims to address the current lack of a comprehensive legal framework for establishing marine protected areas and enforcing conservation in these remote but vital ecosystems.

The treaty is also essential for achieving the global "30x30" target, an international commitment to protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030. As of June 10, 2025, 49 countries and the EU have ratified the treaty, leaving just 11 more needed to reach the 60 ratifications required for it to enter into force. This surge in support, occurring during the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France, signals significant momentum and hope for a historic shift in ocean governance. However, challenges remain, including the need for rapid ratification by more countries, ensuring strong implementation, and addressing persistent issues like illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and the influence of powerful industry interests.

II. Key Themes and Important Ideas/Facts

A. The High Seas Treaty: Purpose and Significance

• Definition and Scope: The High Seas Treaty is the first legally binding agreement specifically designed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. These "high seas" constitute "nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half the surface of the planet." (AP News)

• Addressing a Governance Gap: Until now, these vast areas have been a "wild west," lacking any "comprehensive legal framework to create marine protected areas or enforce conservation." (AP News, Megan Randles, Greenpeace)

• Urgent Need for Protection: The high seas face immense pressure from "overfishing, climate change and the threat of deep-sea mining." (AP News) Environmental advocates warn of "irreversible harm" without proper protections. (AP News)

• Mechanism for Protection: The treaty establishes a legal process for countries to create marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas and includes rules for "destructive activities like deep-sea mining and geo-engineering." (AP News) It also fosters "technology-sharing, funding mechanisms and scientific collaboration among countries." (AP News)

• Multilateral Decision-Making: Crucially, decisions under the treaty will be made "multilaterally through conferences of parties (COPs) rather than by individual countries acting alone." (AP News)

B. Momentum Towards Entry into Force

• Approaching Ratification Threshold: As of June 10, 2025, "Eighteen countries ratified the High Seas Treaty on Monday, bringing the total to 49 — just 11 short of the 60 needed for the ocean agreement to enter into force." (AP News)

• Record Pace: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres noted the "record" pace of progress, comparing it favorably to the 12 years it took for the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea to enter into force, with the BBNJ treaty poised to do so in just over two. (AP News)

• Urgency of Action: Guterres emphasized, "The entry into force is within our sight, and I call on all remaining nations to join swiftly... We do not have a moment to lose." (AP News)

• Link to 30x30 Target: The treaty is "essential to achieving the global '30x30' target — an international pledge to protect 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030." (AP News) This target requires increasing conserved areas "almost fourfold in just a few years." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation)

C. Broader Context of Ocean Health and Conservation Challenges

• Declining Ocean Health: Progress towards SDG14 (Ocean Conservation) is "going in the wrong direction." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation)

• Overfishing: "Half a century ago, 90% of fish stocks were biologically sustainable... By 2021, that figure had fallen to only about 62%." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation) High-seas fisheries are often only viable "because they are propped up by government subsidies." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Climate Change Impacts:Coral Bleaching: In April 2024, the world experienced its "fourth global coral bleaching event on record, but the second within ten years." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation)

• Deoxygenation: The "global ocean has lost around 2% of its oxygen content over the past 50–60 years." This reduces habitat for oxygen-demanding species and pushes them to the surface, making them easier targets for fishing. (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Nutrient Depletion: Climate change is reducing high seas productivity through warming and "depletion of nutrients and oxygen." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Plastic Pollution: A global plastics treaty is under discussion, with over 100 countries supporting curbing production due to plastics "suffocating the seas and endangering marine life." However, "oil- and gas-producing nations, and representatives of the plastics industry, oppose the plan." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation)

• Lack of Compliance and Funding: Scientists warn that "compliance is a serious problem." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation) Furthermore, out of pledged US$160 billion for ocean support between 2014 and 2024, "only $23.8 billion is classified as having been delivered." (Turning the tide on ocean conservation)

• Destructive Fishing Practices: High-seas fishing uses "destructive and polluting methods, with limited oversight, little enforcement and weak governance." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever) This includes "by-catch, by-kill and pollution problems are often extreme." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

D. The Case for Comprehensive Protection of the High Seas

• Carbon and Nutrient Sinks: The high seas are the planet’s "largest and most secure carbon sink" and play a "crucial part in Earth’s carbon cycle." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever) Marine life in the mesopelagic zone contributes to the "biological pump," while megafauna contribute to the "nutrient pump" by transferring nutrients from deep to shallow waters. (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Biodiversity Hotspot: They are home to "immense diversity of wildlife, including megafauna, such as cetaceans, turtles, tuna and sharks that migrate over vast distances." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Economic Non-Essentiality of High Seas Fishing: "Little of the global fish catch (less than 6%) comes from the high seas," and most of it is for consumption in high-income countries, not for food security. (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

• Call for Permanent Protection: World ocean specialists advocate for "permanent protection of all international ocean waters from fishing, sea-bed mining, and oil and gas exploitation." (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever) This would allow population recoveries and potentially spill healthier stocks into national waters. (Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever)

III. Next Steps Post-Ratification

• Entry into Force: Once 60 countries ratify, a "120-day countdown begins before it officially enters into force." (AP News)

• First Conference of the Parties (COP1): COP1 must occur within one year of the treaty's entry into force. This meeting will be crucial for "governance, financing and the creation of key bodies to evaluate marine protection proposals." (AP News)

• Voting Rights: Only countries that ratify by COP1 will be "eligible to vote on critical decisions that determine how the treaty will operate." (AP News)

• Beyond 60: Environmental groups are pushing to "surpass the required 60 ratifications," as "the more countries that ratify, the stronger and more representative the treaty’s implementation will be." (AP News) The goal is to "go from 60 to global." (Rebecca Hubbard, High Seas Alliance, AP News)

• Hope for 2025: The recent surge in support has "raised hopes that 2025 could mark a turning point for high seas protection." (AP News)

2. Quiz & Answer Key

Quiz

1. What is the formal name of the High Seas Treaty, and what specific challenge does it aim to address in international waters?

2. Why is the High Seas Treaty considered essential for achieving the global "30x30" target?

3. Describe the primary mechanism by which decisions will be made under the High Seas Treaty once it enters into force.

4. According to the "Turning the tide on ocean conservation" editorial, what is one significant reason for the slow progress towards SDG14 related to overfishing?

5. What is the current status of ratifications needed for the High Seas Treaty to enter into force, and how does this compare to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea?

6. Explain the concept of "coral bleaching" as described in the provided texts and its implication for marine ecosystems.

7. What are the two primary mechanisms by which marine life in the high seas influences the global carbon cycle, according to the "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever" article?

8. Why is deep-sea fishing, particularly for mesopelagic species, considered a threat to ocean health, even if those species are not directly consumed by humans?

9. According to the sources, why are high-seas fisheries often not economically viable without government subsidies?

10. What role do "fish aggregation devices (FADs)" play in high-seas fishing, and what negative consequences are associated with their use?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The High Seas Treaty is formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). It aims to create a comprehensive legal framework for protecting marine biodiversity in international waters, which previously lacked such a system.

2. The High Seas Treaty is essential for the "30x30" target because it provides the legal mechanism to establish marine protected areas in the high seas. This is crucial for conserving 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030, as two-thirds of the ocean falls under international waters.

3. Decisions under the High Seas Treaty will be made multilaterally through Conferences of the Parties (COPs). This approach ensures that conservation efforts and regulations for activities like deep-sea mining are agreed upon by multiple countries rather than individual nations.

4. One significant reason for the slow progress towards SDG14 regarding overfishing is the dramatic decline in biologically sustainable fish stocks. The proportion of sustainable stocks fell from 90% half a century ago to about 62% by 2021, indicating widespread overexploitation.

5. As of June 10, 2025, 49 countries and the EU have ratified the High Seas Treaty, meaning 11 more are needed for it to enter into force (total of 60). This pace is considered a record, as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea took 12 years to reach entry into force, while the BBNJ treaty is expected to do so in just over two years.

6. Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel their symbiotic algae due to stress, turning white. This process makes them more vulnerable to starvation and disease, and repeated bleaching events, exacerbated by climate change, threaten the health and survival of coral reef ecosystems.

7. Marine life in the high seas influences the global carbon cycle through the biological pump and the nutrient pump. The biological pump involves mesopelagic species migrating daily to the deep and depositing carbon-rich faeces, while the nutrient pump refers to megafauna bringing nutrients from deep to shallow waters through their feeding and waste, boosting CO2 uptake.

8. Deep-sea fishing, especially for mesopelagic species, threatens ocean health because there is limited understanding of these deep-sea ecosystems. Expanding these fisheries could reduce the ocean's carbon uptake and deplete a vital food source for larger marine animals like tuna, sharks, and dolphins.

9. High-seas fisheries are often not economically viable without government subsidies because of the sparseness of biomass in these remote regions. This means catches are relatively small (less than 6% of the global fish catch), and the significant operational costs are often offset by government financial support.

10. Fish aggregation devices (FADs) are rafts with netting used in "purse seine" fisheries to attract tuna and other marine life. However, they cause significant by-catch, killing non-target species like turtles, dolphins, and sharks, and a large percentage of FADs are lost or abandoned at sea, contributing to marine pollution.

3. Essay Questions

1. Discuss the urgency of the High Seas Treaty's entry into force, considering the threats facing marine biodiversity in international waters. What specific environmental pressures make this treaty critically important now?

2. Analyze the challenges and opportunities presented by the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, as a forum for advancing ocean conservation. How does this conference differ from high-stakes treaty negotiations, and what could be its long-term impact?

3. Evaluate the arguments for permanent protection of the high seas from all extraction (fishing, sea-bed mining, and oil and gas exploitation). What are the ecological, economic, and social justifications presented for such a moratorium?

4. Compare and contrast the progress and challenges associated with the High Seas Treaty and other international agreements aimed at ocean sustainability, such as the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the proposed global plastics treaty.

5. Examine the concept of the "30x30" target in the context of ocean conservation. What are the obstacles to achieving this goal in the high seas, and how does the High Seas Treaty aim to overcome them?

4. Glossary of Key Terms

• 30x30 Target: An international pledge to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030, a key goal in global biodiversity conservation.

• Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ): The formal name for the High Seas Treaty, a legally binding agreement focused on protecting marine biodiversity in international waters.

• Biological Pump: A mechanism in the ocean carbon cycle where marine organisms, particularly those in the mesopelagic zone, transport carbon from surface waters to deeper layers through their feeding, migration, and waste products.

• By-catch/By-kill: Non-target marine species caught or killed inadvertently during fishing operations, often leading to significant ecological damage.

• Climate Change: Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, largely caused by human activities, impacting ocean health through warming, acidification, and deoxygenation.

• Conference of the Parties (COP): A decision-making body comprising representatives from countries that have ratified a particular international treaty, responsible for its implementation and ongoing governance.

• Coral Bleaching: A phenomenon where corals expel their symbiotic algae, turning white, typically caused by increased water temperatures or other stressors, making them vulnerable to starvation and disease.

• Deep-sea Mining: The process of extracting minerals from the ocean floor at depths beyond traditional reach, posing a significant threat to deep-sea ecosystems.

• Deoxygenation: The reduction of dissolved oxygen in ocean waters, often due to warming and stratification, which shrinks habitat volumes for oxygen-demanding species and reduces their productivity.

• Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs): Man-made or natural floating objects used in fishing to attract fish, often leading to increased by-catch and marine pollution.

• High Seas: International waters that are beyond the jurisdiction of any single country, making up nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half the surface of the planet.

• High Seas Alliance: An environmental group pushing for the effective implementation and widespread ratification of the High Seas Treaty.

• High Seas Treaty: The first legally binding global agreement specifically aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters, officially known as the BBNJ Agreement.

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Designated geographical areas of the sea that are protected for conservation purposes, allowing marine ecosystems to recover and thrive.

• Mesopelagic Zone: The "twilight zone" of the ocean, located at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters, home to a vast biomass of fish and invertebrates crucial for the biological pump.

• Multilateralism: The principle of cooperation among multiple countries in pursuing common goals, particularly relevant for global issues like ocean conservation.

• Nutrient Pump: A mechanism in the ocean where marine megafauna (e.g., whales, turtles) transfer nutrients from deeper waters to the surface through their feeding and waste, boosting primary production.

• Overfishing: Fishing at a rate that exceeds the capacity of fish populations to replenish themselves, leading to a decline in fish stocks.

• Ratification: The formal act by which a state confirms its consent to be bound by a treaty, making it legally binding in that country.

• Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs): International organizations responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks in specific regions of the high seas.

• SDG14 (Sustainable Development Goal 14): One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically focused on "Life Below Water," aiming to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

• UN Ocean Conference: An international meeting bringing together governments, scientists, industry, and environmental groups to accelerate progress towards ocean health goals.

• UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty that established a comprehensive legal framework for all ocean activities, predating the High Seas Treaty.

5. Timeline of Main Events

Pre-20th Century:

• Since 17th Century: High seas exploited for whales.

20th Century:

• Mid-20th Century: High seas exploitation expands to include fish, sharks, and squid, leading to wildlife depletion. Collapse of cetacean populations across the entire ocean due to whaling.

• 1930s: Japanese long-distance tuna fisheries begin in the high seas.

• 1950s: Longline fishing for billfish and sharks expands in the high seas.

• 1960s-1970s: Deep-sea bottom trawling of seamounts and continental slopes begins.

• 1990s: Squid ‘jigging’ using lights starts. Purse seine fisheries adopt satellite-tracked drifting fish aggregation devices (dFADs).

2014:

• 2014: High-seas fishing generated profits between US$3.8 billion and $5.6 billion, propped up by $4.2 billion in subsidies.

• 2014: Global Ocean Commission publishes "From Decline to Recovery: A Rescue Package for the Global Ocean."

• 2014-2024: Governments, industry, and others pledge US$160 billion in support for oceans, but only $23.8 billion is delivered.

2021:

• By 2021: Proportion of biologically sustainable fish stocks falls to approximately 62%, from 90% half a century prior.

2022:

• June 2022: The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies is adopted by World Trade Organization (WTO) members.

• 2022: Global Biodiversity Framework agrees to protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

2023:

• 2023: The UN High Seas Treaty (formally the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) is agreed upon to protect and sustainably use marine resources in international waters. At publication of one source, only 28 of the 115 signatory countries had ratified it.

2024:

• April 2024: Scientists at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report the fourth global coral bleaching event on record, and the second within ten years.

• December 2024: The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy last posts a news update on its website.

2025:

• May 20, 2025: Editorial "Turning the tide on ocean conservation" is published in Nature, highlighting the UN Ocean Conference as a crucial opportunity.

• June 6, 2025 (Friday): Coral visible in the protected area of France’s Porquerolles National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference.

• June 7, 2025 (Saturday): Mountains reflected in the waters of France’s Port-Cros National Park ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference. A painted comber swims in the protected area of France’s Port-Cros National Park.

• June 8, 2025 (Sunday): People enjoy the beach as vessels sail during the “Ocean Wonders” themed event in honor of World Oceans Day ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

• June 9, 2025 (Monday): Eighteen countries ratify the High Seas Treaty, bringing the total to 49 (including the EU). This occurs during the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice, France. Diplomat Leena Al-Hadid of Jordan signs the High Seas Treaty.

• June 10, 2025 (Tuesday): U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres states that the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty is "within our sight," with 11 more ratifications needed.

• Next Month (after May 2025 editorial): Countries meet in Nice, France, for the UN Ocean Conference to accelerate progress towards SDG14.

• August 2025: Nations will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for the next round of talks on a global plastics treaty.

Future (unspecified dates beyond 2025):

• Once 60 countries ratify the High Seas Treaty: A 120-day countdown begins before it officially enters into force, unlocking the ability to designate protected areas and set oversight mechanisms.

• Within one year of the High Seas Treaty’s entry into force: The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) must take place to lay the groundwork for implementation, including governance, financing, and creation of bodies to evaluate marine protection proposals. Only countries ratifying by COP1 will be eligible to vote on critical decisions.

• By 2030: Target for conserving 30% of the planet's land and sea (the "30x30" target).

• 2025 (Hopes): Could mark a turning point for high seas protection, driven by the surge in treaty support.

Cast of Characters

• António Guterres: U.N. Secretary-General. He calls for remaining nations to swiftly ratify the High Seas Treaty and notes the record pace of its progress compared to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

• Megan Randles: Global political lead for oceans at Greenpeace. She emphasizes that the High Seas Treaty offers a chance to implement proper protections, stating that it has been "the wild west on the high seas" until now.

• Rebecca Hubbard: Director of the High Seas Alliance. She stresses the importance of surpassing 60 ratifications quickly and achieving global engagement for effective implementation of the treaty, proclaiming, "We’re on the brink of making high seas history.”

• Annika Hammerschlag: An Associated Press text and visual journalist covering the intersection of oceans and climate change globally. She is credited as the author and photographer for the AP News article.

• Leena Al-Hadid: Diplomat of Jordan. She is mentioned as signing the High Seas Treaty during the U.N. Ocean Conference on June 9, 2025.

• Callum M. Roberts: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Emilia Dyer: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Sylvia A. Earle: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Andrew Forrest: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Julie P. Hawkins: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Ove Hoegh-Guldberg: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Jessica J. Meeuwig: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Daniel Pauly: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Stuart L. Pimm: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• U. Rashid Sumaila: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Johan Rockström: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

• Mark Lynas: Author of "Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever."

6. FAQ

What is the High Seas Treaty and why is it important?

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), is the first legally binding international agreement specifically designed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. These waters, known as the high seas, are beyond the jurisdiction of any single country, making up nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half of the planet's surface. The treaty is crucial because, until its inception, there was no comprehensive legal framework to establish marine protected areas or enforce conservation measures in these vast international waters. It aims to address the significant pressures facing the high seas, including overfishing, climate change, and the threat of deep-sea mining, which previously made them akin to a "wild west." The treaty is also essential for achieving the global "30x30" target, an international commitment to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030.

How does the High Seas Treaty work to protect marine biodiversity?

The High Seas Treaty establishes a legal process for countries to create marine protected areas within the high seas. It sets out rules for potentially destructive activities such as deep-sea mining and geo-engineering, aiming to regulate or prevent them in these vulnerable environments. Furthermore, the treaty fosters international cooperation by creating a framework for technology-sharing, funding mechanisms, and scientific collaboration among nations. A critical aspect of its operation is that decisions under the treaty will be made multilaterally through Conferences of Parties (COPs), rather than by individual countries acting in isolation, ensuring a coordinated global approach to ocean conservation.

What is the current status of the High Seas Treaty's ratification and what needs to happen for it to enter into force?

As of June 2025, 49 countries and the EU have ratified the High Seas Treaty. For the treaty to officially enter into force and become international law, a total of 60 countries must ratify it. Once this threshold is met, a 120-day countdown will begin before the treaty officially becomes active. This would then unlock the ability to start designating protected areas in the high seas and implement the oversight mechanisms outlined in the agreement. The pace of ratification has been described as a "record" compared to previous major UN conventions.

What are the main threats to the high seas that the treaty aims to address?

The high seas face numerous and escalating threats. Overfishing has significantly depleted fish stocks; for example, the percentage of biologically sustainable fish stocks fell from 90% half a century ago to about 62% by 2021. Climate change is a major concern, leading to phenomena like global coral bleaching events and ocean deoxygenation, which reduces habitat volume for oxygen-demanding species. The threat of deep-sea mining looms, posing further irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. Additionally, plastic pollution, exacerbated by inadequate waste management and resistance from oil and gas interests to curb plastic production, is suffocating the seas and endangering marine life. The High Seas Treaty seeks to provide a legal framework to mitigate these pressures and protect these critical ecosystems.

Why is there a push for permanent protection of all international ocean waters from extraction activities?

Leading world ocean specialists and policymakers advocate for the permanent protection of all international ocean waters from fishing, deep-sea mining, and oil and gas exploitation due to the critical role the high seas play in Earth's life-support system. These waters are home to immense biodiversity, including migratory megafauna, and are the planet's largest and most secure carbon sink, vital for regulating the global carbon cycle through mechanisms like the biological and nutrient pumps. Exploitation has already significantly depleted wildlife and the ocean's ability to regulate climate. Given the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises and the potential for irreversible environmental shifts, experts argue that ceasing all extraction in the high seas is necessary to maintain global climate stability, biodiversity, and ocean equity.

What challenges exist in achieving comprehensive ocean conservation goals, even with new treaties?

Despite the development of new treaties and agreements, significant challenges hinder comprehensive ocean conservation. A major issue is a lack of compliance and slow implementation of existing policies. For instance, increasing conserved areas fourfold by 2030 to meet the 30x30 target requires substantial acceleration. Financial commitments are often unmet; of the $160 billion pledged for oceans between 2014 and 2024, only $23.8 billion was delivered. Political disagreements and the influence of powerful industries, such as oil and gas interests, can water down treaty provisions, as seen in the ongoing discussions for a global plastics treaty. Furthermore, for treaties like the High Seas Treaty, lack of data, disagreements about responsibilities, and the inherent complexities of multilateralism can hamper effective implementation.

How do human activities on the high seas impact the ocean's role in the global carbon cycle?

Human activities, particularly intensive fishing, have significantly impacted the ocean's crucial role in the global carbon cycle. The "nutrient pump," where marine megafauna transfer nutrients from deep to shallow waters, has been slowed by centuries of exploitation, starting with whaling and expanding to various forms of high-seas fishing. This depletion of populations like cetaceans reduces the upward transfer of nutrients that boost biomass production and CO2 uptake. Additionally, the potential expansion of fisheries to deeper, mesopelagic waters threatens to reduce the amount of carbon the oceans can sequester, as these zones are critical for the "biological pump" where organisms transport carbon to the deep sea. Destructive fishing methods, by-catch, and pollution further exacerbate these negative impacts, endangering the ocean's ability to act as a vital carbon sink.

What happens after the High Seas Treaty reaches 60 ratifications and enters into force?

Once the High Seas Treaty reaches 60 ratifications and the 120-day countdown concludes, it will officially enter into force. Within one year of its entry into force, the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) must take place. This meeting will be crucial for laying the groundwork for the treaty's implementation, including making decisions on its governance structure, financing mechanisms, and the establishment of key bodies responsible for evaluating marine protection proposals. Environmental groups emphasize the importance of having more than the minimum 60 ratifications and swift action, as only countries that ratify before COP1 will be eligible to vote on critical decisions that will shape how the treaty operates and its effectiveness in protecting the high seas.

7. Table of Contents

Contents: High Seas Treaty Deep Dive

Introduction: The Ocean's Last Frontier ................... 0:00
Setting the stage for understanding the high seas and introducing the High Seas Treaty momentum

Chapter 1: Defining the High Seas ......................... 2:15
Explaining Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and the staggering scale of international waters

Chapter 2: Hidden Ocean Engines ........................... 4:30
Exploring the biological pump and mesopelagic zone migration patterns that regulate Earth's climate

Chapter 3: The Nutrient Recycling System ................. 7:45
Understanding how large marine animals pump nutrients from deep to surface waters

Chapter 4: The Wild West Reality .......................... 10:20
Examining the current lawless state of high seas governance and exploitation

Chapter 5: The Fishing Crisis ............................. 12:00
Analyzing overfishing statistics, destructive practices, and the decline from 90% to 62% sustainable stocks

Chapter 6: Long Lines and Lost Nets ....................... 15:30
Detailing destructive fishing methods including long-lining, bottom trawling, and DFAD pollution

Chapter 7: The Economics of Destruction ................... 18:45
Exposing the $4.2 billion subsidy system that props up unprofitable high seas fishing

Chapter 8: Climate Change Impacts ......................... 21:30
Discussing ocean warming, oxygen loss, and the fourth global coral bleaching event

Chapter 9: The Mining Threat .............................. 24:15
Exploring future deep sea mining and mesopelagic fishing pressures

Chapter 10: Enter the High Seas Treaty ................... 26:00
Introducing the BBNJ Agreement as the first comprehensive legal framework for international waters

Chapter 11: Treaty Mechanisms ............................. 28:30
Explaining marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and benefit-sharing provisions

Chapter 12: The Path to 30 by 30 ......................... 31:00
Connecting the treaty to global biodiversity targets and ocean protection goals

Chapter 13: Ratification Surge ........................... 33:15
Tracking the dramatic acceleration from 21 to 49 ratifications and the push toward 60

Chapter 14: The 120-Day Countdown ......................... 36:45
Understanding what happens when the 60th country ratifies and the importance of COP1

Chapter 15: Implementation Challenges ..................... 39:30
Addressing compliance, enforcement, and funding gaps in ocean conservation

Chapter 16: The Plastics Connection ....................... 42:00
Exploring parallel negotiations on global plastic pollution treaties

Chapter 17: The Radical Alternative ....................... 44:30
Examining the proposal to permanently close all international waters to extraction

Chapter 18: The Global Ecosystem Vision .................. 47:15
Understanding the high seas as planetary life support rather than resource extraction zone

Conclusion: Making Treaties Work on Water ................. 49:45
Reflecting on the urgency of translating international commitments into effective ocean protection

Closing Thoughts: Recurring Narratives ................... 52:30
Final philosophical framework connecting to boundary dissolution, adaptive complexity, and quantum uncertainty

8. Index

Index: High Seas Treaty Deep Dive

ABNJ (Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) - 3:00, 26:15

Biodiversity hotspots - 4:45

Biological pump - 5:00, 6:30, 47:30

Bottom trawling - 16:45

Bycatch - 16:15

Climate change - 21:30, 23:15

Conference of Parties (COP) - 28:45, 37:30

Coral bleaching - 23:45

Deep sea mining - 24:15, 25:00

DFADs (Drifting Fish Aggregation Devices) - 17:00, 18:00

Environmental impact assessments - 27:15, 28:00

Fish stocks decline - 12:30

Funding gaps - 40:30, 41:15

Ghost fishing - 18:15

Global plastics treaty - 42:15

Greenpeace - 11:00

High Seas Alliance - 35:30

High Seas Treaty - 26:00, 33:00

Human rights abuses - 20:30

Long lining - 15:45, 16:00

Marine protected areas (MPAs) - 27:00, 31:45

Mesopelagic zone - 5:15, 24:45

Nutrient pump - 7:45, 8:30

Ocean warming - 22:00

Overfishing - 12:00, 13:15

Oxygen loss - 22:15, 22:45

Purse-seine fishing - 17:15

Ratification - 33:30, 34:45, 36:00

Subsidies - 19:00, 19:30

Thirty by thirty (30 by 30) - 31:00, 31:30

UN Secretary General Guterres - 34:15

Wild West - 11:00, 26:30

9. Post-Episode Fact Check

VERIFIED INFORMATION:

✅ High Seas Treaty Details: The BBNJ Agreement was adopted by the UN General Assembly on June 19, 2023, and opened for signature on September 20, 2023 StatePew

✅ Ratification Status: The recent surge is accurate - 18 countries ratified the treaty on June 9, 2025, bringing the total to 49 ratifications, just 11 short of the required 60 HighseasallianceNature

✅ Entry into Force Process: After 60 ratifications, the treaty will enter into force 120 days later, with the first Conference of Parties (COP1) following within a year High Seas Treaty gains momentum as 18 new countries pledge support

✅ High Seas Coverage: The scale mentioned (61% of ocean area, 43% of Earth's surface) aligns with established scientific data about areas beyond national jurisdiction

✅ 30 by 30 Goal: The treaty is vital for achieving the commitment to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030

UNABLE TO VERIFY SPECIFIC DETAILS:

⚠️ Specific Statistics: While the general trends about fishing subsidies, stock declines, and ecological impacts are consistent with scientific literature, I cannot verify the exact figures cited (like $4.2 billion in subsidies, 200 ppm CO2 difference, 120,000 DFADs annually) without accessing the original sources referenced in the podcast

⚠️ UN Secretary-General Quote: Cannot verify the specific quote about "record-breaking pace" without accessing the original statement

⚠️ Timeline Details: The podcast references specific dates and progression (21 to 28 to 49 ratifications) but I cannot verify the exact timing of these milestones

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:

The episode appears to be factually sound in its major claims about the High Seas Treaty, ratification progress, and the general scientific understanding of high seas ecosystems. The core narrative about moving from 49 to 60 ratifications aligns with current reporting. However, some specific statistics and quotes would require access to the original sources cited to fully verify. The scientific concepts about biological and nutrient pumps, while not independently verified in my search, are consistent with established oceanographic understanding.

RECOMMENDATION: The episode demonstrates strong factual grounding with appropriate sourcing, though listeners interested in specific statistics should consult the original research papers and reports referenced.

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