HIGH SEAS
UNDER THREAT
PELAGIC BODIVERSITY NEEDS ATTENTION
HIGH SEAS
The high seas cover about
64% of the Earth’s
The high seas refer to the open ocean
found beyond any country’s national
jurisdiction. They hold great biodiversity
and provide important habitats for many
migratory species such as whales,
seabirds, sea turtles, tuna, and sharks.
DID YOU
KNOW ?
surface and 90% of the
global ocean ! But still, less
than 1% of their surface is
fully protected.
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY ?
Biodiversity refers to a variety of life forms including plants, animals,
and microorganisms, their genetic diversity, but also the ecosystems
they form and the habitats they live in. It is the fruit of billions of years of
natural evolution. It forms the web of life of which humans are part too.
WHAT ABOUT THE PELAGIC
BIODIVERSITY ?
It is the organisms living in the pelagic zone : the open
and free waters away from the shore. It includes the
entire ocean water column, divided in sub-zones
depending on the depth ranging from surface water to
more than 4000 meters deep. Numbers and
distributions of organisms vary regionally and
vertically, depending on availability of light, nutrients,
dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and pressure.
Pelagic organisms include:
Neuston and Plankton: microorganisms
drifting with the currents.
Nekton: the animals able to swim by themselves.
DID YOU
KNOW ?
Of all inhabited Earth
environments, the pelagic
zone has the largest volume.
It forms the largest
ecosystem on earth : they
include 99% of the total
biosphere volume.
BIODIVERSITY IS WHAT MAKES OUR OCEAN RESILIENT, WE
NEED TO PROTECT IT
WHY PROTECTING THE HIGH SEAS MATTERS
The high seas are home to a diverse range of marine species and ecosystems that are
essential to the health of the ocean, climate, planet, and humans. Many marine animals,
such as whales, tuna, and sharks, spend the majority of their lives in these seas, travelling
over vast ocean basins from feeding areas to breeding sites and back. Hence, those areas
are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing,
and other human activities, but they are poorly protected.
WHAT ARE WE PROTECTING?
DID YOU KNOW ?
Since 1850, the ocean
has removed 26 % of
total anthropogenic
emissions.
The annual economic
value of this high sea
carbon storage is
estimated at
US$74 - US$222 billion.
THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF PELAGIC BIODIVERSITY
The protection of high seas biodiversity represents a big
opportunity in the battle against global biodiversity loss.
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE HIGH SEAS
Every single human being depends (in-)directly on the
ocean. The deteriorating health of the high seas induces
negative financial and economic effects for all of us.
THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF THE HIGH SEAS
Such as: Carbon storage, climate regulation prevention of
extreme weather events, food source, nutrient cycling.
WHAT IS THREATENING PELAGIC BIODIVERSITY?
CLIMATE DRIVERS
Increased temperature, acidification, foodchain instability,
worsend living conditions, species migration
SHIPPING
Collisions with wildlife such as whale strikes, transport of
non-native species (invasive species), pollution (noise, oil, ...)
Since 1970 the maritime
trade volume has
increased by 400%
UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING
Biodiversity loss, over-fished stocks, pollution, capture of
non-targeted species (bycatch), habitat destruction
PLASTIC POLLUTION
Poisoning of marine animals through accumulated toxic
heavy metals on plastic particles, physical harm of animals
DID YOU KNOW ?
It is estimated that
plastic will outweigh all
fish in the sea by 2050
INCREASING INTEREST IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THE OCEAN AS A GLOBAL COMMONS,
GROWING MARITIME TRAFFIC AND INSUFFICIENT GOVERNANCE MAKE MANY HARMFUL
AND EVEN ILLEGAL HUMAN ACTIVITIES GO UNSEEN AND UNPUNISHED IN THE HIGH SEAS.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT IS INEFFECTIVE
The ocean is a typical resource of the "commons." Management of human activities
impacting the High Seas is inherently a global and intergovernmental effort.
YET THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE IS HARDLY EFFECTIVE.
Practically managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations
FISHING
(RFMOs). Measures include controlling and assigning catch quotas,
restricting destructive methods, etc. However, the practical effect is limited:
Geographical gaps in governance coverage
Limited competencies or narrow membership of some RFMOs
Subsidies are a huge driver--High Seas fishing is hardly profitable without
subsidies. Relevant negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are
still on-going.
SHIPPING
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
oversees global shipping. Measures include
technology improvements, pollution and dumping
restrictions, speed restrictions, shipping lanes
planning, etc. It also has limited effects:
No legal power to enforce regulations
Standards are not strict enough.
BRIDGING
THE GAP?
PENDING
NEGOTIATIONS
PLASTIC POLLUTION
In 2022, governments
agreed to adopt an
ambitious new
agreement on ocean
plastic pollution. But the
conclusion of the treaty
can be too late to
effectively address the
problem.
CLIMATE
DRIVERS
Climate Negotiations have
not been paying the ocean
enough attention.
The Biodiversity Beyond
National Jurisdiction treaty is
being negotiated to bridge the
gap of High Seas governance,
setting rules on Environmental
Impact Assessment and facilitate
Area-Based Management Tools
(creating Marine Protected Areas,
MPAs). Establishmen of MPAs is
further going to be discussed at
the Convention on Biological
Diversity COP 15.
THE TOP-DOWN APPROACH CURRENTLY HAS LIMITED EFFECT.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED TO ACCELERATE GOVERNANCE
FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION AND DRIVE ACTIONS FROM BOTTOM-UP.
WE NEED YOUR ACTION ! DON'T KNOW HOW? TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE !
What can you do?
1. Talk to your family and friends
about it
They might not be aware of the issue and
can spread the word.
2. Contact your local and national
politicians
Get in touch with local members of the
national parliament and government leaders
to urge them to take action on this issue.
3. Push for the faster construction of
global high-seas governance
Push for acceleration of the law-making
process in WTO, Convention on Biological
Diversity, etc. Through signing petitions &
voting for politicians who speak up in favour
of protecting the oceans, actively engage
in politics or NGOs.
4. Consume seafood consciously
Reduce your seafood consumption, check
the labels (MSC& ASC) and choose more
sustainable seafood like clams over fish.
5. Consume locally
This can help to reduce maritime shipping
which often leads to collisions with pelagic
animals.
6. Reduce plastic consumption
You can reduce your usage of single use
plastic and properly recycle the plastic you
use.
DID YOU KNOW ?
PROTECT
OUR OCEANS
ORGANISATIONS
THAT PROTECT
PELAGIC BIODIVERSITY
_World Wildlife Fund
_International Union for Conservation of Nature
_Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
_The Pew Charitable Trusts
_Natural Resources Defense Council
_Oceana
_Ocean Conservancy
_The Ocean Cleanup
...
THERE'S STILL TIME.
ACT NOW.
You likely consume the
equivalent of a credit card’s
worth of plastic every single
week, due to seafood
consumption.
HOW TO HAVE AN
OCEAN-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS
Reduce food waste by only
purchasing what you’ll need.
Reduce Paper Waste from
Christmas Wrapping.
Choose an potted Christmas tree
for ocean-friendliness.
Swap plastic, shop-bought
decorations for handmade ones
Regift unwanted presents