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High Seas Conservation
The largest, least-protected places on our blue planet are found in the high seas – the open ocean and deep seabed that lie seaward of individual nations’ jurisdictions. They cover about 45% of the Earth’s surface, and 64% of the oceans. Belonging to no single nation, they have been, for too long, neglected by all. The high seas are home to great whales, sea turtles, seabirds, tunas, and sharks that traverse entire ocean basins in search of food. They house deep-dwelling fishes and invertebrate animals that live long, slow-motion lives in eternal darkness. High seas ecosystems include places where great water masses meet and species congregate as well as vast muddy plains, coral-capped seamounts, and vents that shoot hot water into the frigid depths. These places give rise to many rich and precious life forms found nowhere else on the planet. High seas biodiversity is threatened by fishing, climate change and other human-caused impacts. These losses are also our losses, as they threaten the ability of the oceans to sustain marine life and support human societies. The global community, through the UN, has decided that key high seas ecosystems should be protected. Recently, both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the FAO have developed criteria to start selecting these areas. Never before has there been such an opportunity to begin protecting the high seas, and MCBI is ready and committed to organizing and providing the science necessary for making meaningful lasting decisions.
Our Work on High Seas Conservation:
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