Via Undark
"We have a critical opportunity to implement scientifically informed policy. Not acting now would be an irreversible loss for future generations."
High Seas
Via The Guardian
"Japan is to defy Australia and other nations with plans to replace its whaling fleet’s ageing mother ship, showing its determination to continue its annual expeditions to the Southern Ocean."
Via Nature
"Any future network of high-seas reserves will need to cover a large variety of species in representative ecosystems in all climate zones. To do this, researchers with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity suggest that marine protected areas should cover at least 10% of the global ocean by 2020. At present, the figure is closer to 6% — almost all in coastal waters."
Via Smithsonian.com
"In the high seas, fish, marine mammals and other species face many threats including toxic dumping, massive plastic pollution, poaching, overfishing and illegal fishing techniques, and the emerging technology of seabed and deep sea mining. Now that the negotiations have the go-ahead, member states will address these and other issues at four meetings that will take place over the next two years."
Via Phys.org
"In 2014 alone, the Asian country caught 3.7 million tonnes of fish outside its Exclusive Economic Zone but reported only 247,000 tonnes"
Via Fisheries and Oceans Canada
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, issued the following statement today:
“As the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, I am proud to announce that Canada has reached an historic agreement in principle today in Washington, D.C. to prevent unregulated commercial fishing in the high seas of the central Arctic Ocean. It’s the first time an international agreement of this magnitude has been reached before any commercial fishing takes place on a region of the high seas.
Via Straits Times
Australia and France kick off a fresh push Monday (Oct 16) to create a vast marine sanctuary in pristine East Antarctica, hoping to build on the success of landmark deal secured last year at a key annual conservation summit.
Via SeafoodSource
To date, the World Ocean Council is the only industry organization participating in the High Seas MPA treaty process since it started in 2016.
"In late July, after two years of talks, diplomats at the United Nations recommended starting treaty negotiations to create marine protected areas in waters beyond national jurisdiction — and in turn, begin the high-stakes diplomatic jostling over how much to protect and how to enforce rules."
Via IISD
"The fourth session of the BBNJ PrepCom continued consideration of: the scope of an ILBI and its relationship with other instruments; guiding approaches and principles; marine genetic resources, including questions on benefit-sharing; measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas; environmental impact assessments; and capacity building and marine technology transfer."
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