Protecting the High Seas
Exciting news for marine conservation! A landmark international agreement has been adopted, through consensus of 193 countries, to provide a process for establishing Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas.
This agreement is extremely important for global marine conservation, BUT … without us all urging the US Senate to approve the agreement, the USA will probably not participate.
Contact your US Senator now to demand that the US Senate approve this vital new marine conservation initiative!
Contact your US Senator and request the Senate vote immediately to approve the agreement on marine biodiversity on the high seas, also known as the BBNJ Treaty
Background:
The agreement lays out for the first time a process for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas (i.e. outside of countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones). MPAs have been demonstrated to be an effective measure, perhaps the most effective measure, for protecting marine biodiversity and allowing populations of endangered species to recover. Effective implementation of the agreement and MPAs is important and urgent to mitigate the rapid declines that have been documented for many species over recent decades.
The agreement also includes a framework for performing Environmental Impact Assessments of activities on the high seas, sharing of marine genetic information, and other provisions. The agreement was accepted in June 2023 by a consensus of 193 nations, including the USA, after over 15 years of preparation and negotiations. The agreement is open for ratification as of September 20, 2023.
The immediate participation of the USA would lead the way and set a strong example for other large nations around the globe to join in this incredible opportunity to safeguard our endangered species in the high seas. This opportunity could be a defining moment to attend to our decaying marine diversity.
For the USA to join the agreement, it must be approved by a 2/3 majority vote of the US Senate. Without joining the agreement, the US will not be able to provide the leadership and input that will be critical to the effective implementation of the agreement.
Actions you can take:
Call, write, email, or use your Senators’ social media to contact your US Senators and request that they promptly consider and vote on approving the BBNJ Treaty. Your Senators represent your voice and need to hear your position.
Find your Senator’s contact details here.
Use your social networks to encourage others to do the same!
Notes:
BBNJ is “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction”. The full title of the agreement is “Agreement Under the United Nations Convention on The Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”
For example, three-quarters of oceanic shark and ray species are threatened with extinction (classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List). Pacoureau, N., Rigby, C.L., Kyne, P.M. et al. Half a century of global decline in oceanic sharks and rays. Nature 589, 567–571 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03173-9
The full text of the BBNJ Treaty agreement can be found here.
A link to the US Senators’ list, with phone contact information, can be found here. Email and social media contact may be found on your Senator’s website.