Collective Science to Inform Global Ocean Protections

Abstract

In June 2023, the United Nations adopted the High Seas Treaty. Two years later, signatories are poised to ratify this treaty and create a legal instrument to implement marine protected areas (MPAs) in our greatest global commons, ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction. Protection of the open and deep ocean is timely: we stand at the precipice of an industrial revolution in Earth's largest remaining wilderness. Deciding where to strategically implement high seas MPAs under this treaty requires robust biodiversity information, yet publicly accessible data is sparse, particularly at depth. There is now an opportunity for collective science action to support this collective policy action. Realising this opportunity necessitates swift solutions including (1) supporting and incentivising standardised public sharing of existing biodiversity data; (2) broadening the scope of participatory science to process ocean observations into biodiversity data; and (3) equitably implementing new data collection with research partners across our global community.