07 Apr 2026
Photo by Francesco Ungaro More than a tenth of the global ocean is now officially designated as protected or conserved, marking a historic milestone in the race to safeguard marine biodiversity. The figure — confirmed at 10.01% through the latest update to the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas — represents a significant leap from […]
20 Jan 2026
Photo by Jakob Owens The High Seas Treaty officially entered into force on 17 January 2026, marking a historic milestone for global ocean protection. However, the UK remains excluded from decision-making as Parliament has yet to ratify the landmark agreement despite being one of the first countries to sign it in 2023. The treaty, […]
30 Dec 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, and while the physical state of the world’s oceans remains under intense pressure from climate change, the past 12 months have seen some fundamental shifts in how nations could manage the high seas and coastal waters in the future. The most significant legal milestone occurred as the Global […]
22 Jul 2025
Photo by Makabera A massive global study has revealed that some of the most important parts of the ocean for the world’s largest marine animals—whales, sharks, turtles, and seabirds—are still largely unprotected. Despite years of conservation efforts, only a small fraction of their critical habitats are currently safeguarded by marine protected areas (MPAs). The […]
17 Jun 2025
Photo of beach in Nice, France, by Amira El Fohail At the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, held from 9th – 13th June 2025 and co‑hosted by France and Costa Rica, governments, heads of state and more than 10,000 delegates, including 60 world leaders, gathered to confront an ocean in crisis. Against […]
03 Jun 2025
Image: EU flag – Alexey Larionov The United Kingdom is facing mounting criticism for its delay in ratifying the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Global Ocean Treaty, as the European Union and several of its member states move swiftly ahead. The treaty, aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, […]
29 Apr 2025
Image description: Three European flags in a line. Image by Marco / Pexels. The European Commission is pushing ahead with a new directive to bring the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement into EU law – a move Fishing Daily reports as an attempt to both show leadership ahead of the UN Ocean Conference […]
29 Oct 2024
Image: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay The High Seas Treaty currently fills a key gap in international governance by establishing a mechanism for governments to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the high seas. But funding is needed to kickstart the work of accelerating these MPAs, with a focus on supporting the Global South leadership ambitions and […]
