Collective Science to Inform Global Ocean Protections

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Conservation Science
• International Policy

Background:

• The United Nations adopted the High Seas Treaty in June 2023.
• Signatories are preparing to ratify the treaty, establishing a legal framework for marine protected areas (MPAs) in ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• Industrial development in the deep ocean necessitates urgent conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for robust biodiversity data to strategically implement High Seas MPAs.
• To identify key actions required to support the effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
• To bridge the gap between policy action and scientific data for ocean protection.

Main Methods:

• The study emphasizes the need for standardized public sharing of existing biodiversity data.
• It calls for expanding participatory science to convert ocean observations into biodiversity data.
• It advocates for equitable implementation of new data collection initiatives with global research partners.

Main Results:

• Publicly accessible biodiversity data for deep ocean areas is currently sparse.
• There is a significant opportunity for collective scientific action to inform policy decisions.
• Swift solutions are needed to address data gaps and support MPA implementation.

Conclusions:

• Effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty requires improved and accessible biodiversity data.
• Standardized data sharing, expanded participatory science, and equitable data collection are crucial.
• Collective science action is essential to support the collective policy action of establishing global MPAs.