The High Seas Treaty, at last.
| Title: | The High Seas Treaty, at last. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Grorud-Colvert K; Kirsten Grorud-Colvert is an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.; Sullivan-Stack J; Jenna Sullivan-Stack is a research associate in the Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. |
| Source: | Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2026 Jan 15; Vol. 391 (6782), pp. 219. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 15. |
| Publication Type: | Editorial |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0404511 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1095-9203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00368075 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Science Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: : Washington, DC : American Association for the Advancement of Science; Original Publication: New York, N.Y. : [s.n.] 1880- |
| MeSH Terms: | Conservation of Natural Resources*/legislation & jurisprudence ; Aquatic Organisms* ; Biodiversity*; Fisheries/legislation & jurisprudence ; Animals ; Oceans and Seas ; United Nations |
| Abstract: | It will be a historic day when the High Seas Treaty comes into force this week on 17 January. Officially known as the United Nations (UN) Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, this new legal instrument is designed to protect and sustainably use the biodiversity in an area covering half of the Earth and two-thirds of the ocean-the water columns and deep seabeds not under any country's control. The high seas teem with life, from migrating megafauna in surface waters to ancient deep-sea corals and sponges, which have been largely unprotected. Conversations about the high seas were historically driven by commercial interests, including shipping, industrialized fishing, and increasingly mining and prospecting. After more than two decades of planning and negotiating, the High Seas Treaty, which has been ratified by 81 UN member states, will enable the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in this vast wilderness. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260115 Date Completed: 20260115 Latest Revision: 20260115 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.aef3177 |
| PMID: | 41538446 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Editorial