Late last night, after two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates meeting at the United Nations finally agreed to language for a High Seas Treaty. This is a major milestone in a nearly two-decade effort to secure a treaty to govern and protect the High Seas, which make up 70% of the ocean and cover nearly half the planet. More than 160,000 supporters spoke up and urged leaders to act. This public support, along with the great work of partners like RISE UP, the High Seas Alliance, Greenpeace, and more, helped show decision-makers that people all over the world were watching and wanted action — and they delivered. There is still more work to do, as nations will now need to formally adopt the language and ratify the treaty at the country level. We will continue to keep you updated on campaign developments and the critical moments where we need your support.
UPDATE: On August 2nd, New Zealand released its National Plan of Action to protect sharks. Once you sign this pledge, we will submit a comment on your behalf to the NZ Government letting them know that it's time to protect sharks.
New Zealand’s fishing industry harbors a dark and bloody secret.
Recent government reports released to New Zealand environmental NGO Forest & Bird revealed that New Zealand’s commercial longline fleets have been brutally killing endangered sharks that are accidentally caught in their fishing operations to recover hooks that cost as little as $1.
