Petition

Protect the Ocean by Supporting the High Seas Treaty

190,351 signed. Let’s get to 200K.
with RISE UP

Update: On June 19th, 2023, global delegates formally adopted the High Seas treaty in New York. Once 60 countries have ratified the treaty, it will be entered into force and become international law.

Today, nearly half the planet is unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation.

This ocean area that lies outside of any country’s jurisdiction is known as the High Seas and covers over 60 percent of the ocean. This global commons is critical to the health of the entire ocean.

It is one of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on the planet and is a crucial component in several of the Earth’s systems and cycles, providing a multitude of ecosystem services. Many species, such as whales, tunas, sharks, and turtles spend much of their lives traveling along the highways of the High Seas to feeding, spawning, and breeding grounds. 

The bottlenose dolphin is a common sight in coastal waters around the world, but it also maintains large populations offshore · Jorge Cervera Hauser
From the biggest and smallest marine species to humans all over the globe, all life depends on healthy High Seas now and into the future · Jorge Cervera Hauser

But despite its size and importance, only 1.2% of the High Seas have been protected, because it lacks clear rules to establish protected areas leaving its marine life vulnerable to exploitation.

Human-related threats include unsustainable and illegal fishing, shipping traffic, noise pollution, seabed mining, plastic and chemical pollution, and acidifying and warming waters as a result of the climate crisis.

Rare sea lions are among the tens of species at risk of being injured or killed by these huge driftnets · Howard Hall
Shawn Heinrichs
Howard Hall

Following nearly 20 years of discussions at the United Nations, governments are in the final stages of negotiating a new United Nations Treaty that would ensure the meaningful protection of ocean life found in this great global commons. This will be a key step towards moving the planet closer to the goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, the minimum level of protection scientists recommend for a healthy ocean.

Add your name to urge your government and other world leaders to take action and support a strong High Seas Treaty and help build momentum by sharing the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
Supporters
item?.flag flag 1 day ago
Teresa C

The health of the ocean affects every other living thing on our planet.

item?.flag flag 2 days ago
Brian B

The health of our oceans is critical for many species survival, including us humans.

item?.flag flag 3 days ago
mick s

the oceans ar so important

item?.flag flag 4 days ago
Gary C

I care deeply about our planet

item?.flag flag 4 days ago
Pablo B

We must protect the Ocean at all cost ✊🏽

item?.flag flag 5 days ago
Luria W

I have been out to sea, and have suggested better ways of fishing, shrimping etc... the pollution and waste thrown about is devastating to both wildli…

item?.flag flag 5 days ago
Prescillia A

pour quon sauve cest êtres qui nont rien demander 🥺❤️

item?.flag flag 5 days ago
Frances W

plastic has already been a health crisis for a long time. let us protect life, including our own

item?.flag flag 5 days ago
alexis m

no animal deserves fame

item?.flag flag 6 days ago
Claire Paris P

our ocean provides life on earth and needs to br protected - i am a professor of Ocean Science

item?.flag flag 6 days ago
Anne B

We have to look after all our environments, because in the long run, that's how we look after ourselves. If we can't care for sea animals, then we sh…

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Sue M

we need to protect our ocean animals

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Amy P

our oceans are tremendously important and imperiled.

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Jonathan S

We Are Destroying the Environment !!!! not good at all !!!

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Jess F

As a marine biologist, I could list countless benefits (economic, ecological, cultural) to conserving the high seas. But at the end of the day, we sho…

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Felicia S

if our oceans collape, so will we. that should be problematic enough to care!

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Emily R

the worlds oceans are alive just as much, even more so, as our land-side wildlife. These sea creatures desevre fo have their natural environment susta…

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Cam M

I care about what happens tonour planet.

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
A. G

we only have one planet!

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Samantha w

I want to protect our planet and marine life

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Monica G

i care about the ocean our planet and my kids, the future generations need to see the importnace of looking acyer their planet and it will look after…

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Chris G

Because Inwant to actively make postive changes to the world

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Tracy C

All animals deserve protection. The high seas animals are vulnerable without it.

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Candice A

i am signing for future generations to have an ocean

item?.flag flag 1 week ago
Ben B

Our oceans, and we, are in big trouble.

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