Act now. No more broken promises to protect our oceans.

‌© Vanessa Mignon

Act now. No more broken promises to protect our oceans.

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Last year, governments worldwide made a historic pact to protect the largest habitat on Earth, home to millions of species—the high seas.

However, if fewer than 60 countries sign the treaty, the open ocean will remain lawless and vulnerable. Time is running out, and the threats to our oceans are multiplying. Governments must act swiftly to protect the high seas by ratifying this crucial treaty.

No more broken promises

Only once the treaty is ratified can we create new ocean sanctuaries. These need to cover 30% of the ocean by 2030 to address the climate and biodiversity crises our planet faces.

But if 60 countries do not ratify the treaty, the high seas will remain ungoverned and unprotected.

Time is running out to meet this goal as the oceans and its marine life face exploitation and other threats. Historically, Australia has been at the forefront of marine conservation internationally and has a strong role to play in leading the way to being one of the first countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty. So, use your voice and tell our Australian government to take action to bring about a sea of change for conservation of sea life.

The Hon.

Tanya

Plibersek

Minister for the Environment and Water

I am writing to ask that the government ratifies the new High Seas Treaty, adopted at the UN in June 2023, as a matter of urgency. While I am pleased to see many governments, including your own, have already signed the Treaty as a signal of intent, until the Treaty is actually ratified by 60 countries it cannot enter into force.

I urge your government to be one of the first and to ensure the goal of 60 ratifications is reached by the next UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.

Ensuring this Treaty becomes international law as soon as possible is an essential part of bolstering international ocean governance. It provides the framework to secure greater protection of ocean life in the high seas, including the establishment of marine protected areas in the High Seas, which is essential to achieve the global target to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. The High Seas make up approximately two-thirds of the ocean, yet only 1% of it is currently protected. Conservation of marine life in the High Seas is crucial to combat both the biodiversity and climate crises.

Please show your support for High Seas marine life and ratify the Treaty immediately.

Sincerely,

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Why the Treaty matters
Our oceans are in crisis, suffering from centuries of human exploitation and extraction. They can recover, but only if we give them the space they need to heal. That’s why we need ocean sanctuaries.

What has happened so far?
In June 2023, after almost two decades of discussion, the world’s governments finalised a new High Seas Treaty to safeguard marine life in the high seas—areas of the ocean that lie beyond the control of any individual country.

This was a significant milestone for the ocean and a crucial step in tackling the global biodiversity and climate crises. The High Seas represent two-thirds of the ocean and currently receive little, if any, protection from harmful activities like fishing, shipping, and deep-sea mining.

The new Treaty finally makes it possible to create a network of ocean sanctuaries across the globe, areas where fragile ecosystems and marine life can recover and thrive.

What’s next?
Making this treaty international law, and doing so quickly, is vital for greater protection of marine life. But if at least 60 countries do not ratify the treaty, the high seas will remain ungoverned and unprotected.

We need governments to act urgently to ratify the treaty—marine life depends on it.

Act now. No more broken promises to protect our oceans.

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