Discover a few of the incredible biodiversity hotspots in the high seas that deserve priority protection and could become the first generation of high seas MPAs under a new UN High Seas Treaty.
Salas y Gomez & Nazca Ridges – English | Spanish
Costa Rica Thermal Dome – English | Spanish
Emperor Seamounts – English
The principles set out in this document reflect States’ existing international obligations under UNCLOS and other international instruments as well as global norms relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
On June 19 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 69/292 in which it decided to develop an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. The resolution provides for a preparatory committee “to make substantive recommendations to the General Assembly on the elements of a draft text” of the instrument. The High Seas Alliance submits the following suggestions for consideration by the Preparatory Committee.
Download Submission for PrepCom1, here.
High Seas Environmental Impact Assessments – Pew Briefing
Marine Protected Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – Pew Briefing
Interventions delivered:
March 28th:
March 29th:
March 30th:
March 31st:
April 1st:
April 4th:
April 5th:
April 6th:
From 1-4 April 2014, governments will gather at the United Nations in New York, for ground-breaking discussions on whether to launch negotiations for a new High Seas biodiversity agreement under UNCLOS. These discussions will continue at the UN from 16-19 June, with a focus on the ‘scope, parameters and feasibility’ of a new implementing agreement.
The High Seas Alliance has released a series of policy briefs to coincide with these UN intersessional meetings:
HSA Briefing 1: About the High Seas Alliance
HSA Briefing 2: The Need for a New Implementing Agreement Under UNCLOS on Marine Biodiversity of the High Seas
HSA Briefing 3: Equity, Food Security and Capacity-building
HSA Briefing 4: Wonders of the High Seas