THE PATH TO CREATING THE FIRST GENERATION OF HIGH SEAS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Covering nearly half of the Earth’s surface, the vast open-ocean and deep-sea environments of the high seas are ecologically vital, critically threatened and among the least understood on the planet. Research has shown that the high seas hold some of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on Earth, supporting an abundant diversity of marine life, providing migratory routes for whales and sharks, and harbouring remarkable ecosystems such as deep-water corals and other majestic marine life. However, only about 1% of the high seas are highly and fully protected, compared to 17% of land areas.

CLICK ON THE CIRCLES BELOW TO 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 THE NEW UN HIGH SEAS TREATY.