The areas of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction limits, also called the high seas, are vulnerable to human activities and currently underrepresented when compared to terrestrial and nearshore1 marine environments under protection. Thus, there is a growing movement among the conservation community to increase measures, such as marine protected areas, that can ensure protection of the largely undiscovered but important biodiversity of the high seas.

The purpose of this report is threefold:

1. to summarise current efforts aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction; identify the knowledge gaps that still exist; and
2. initiate a collaborative effort among stakeholders in the ocean community to implement high seas
3. marine protected areas (HSMPAs) using globally adopted scientific criteria.

The recommendations that resulted from this analysis are based on a review of projects, organisations and initiatives addressing the high seas as well as an assessment of the current content, scope, and focus of known and accessible databases related to high seas biodiversity. From this we determine gaps, outline current knowledge, and contribute further insights and approaches relevant for the identification and establishment of protected areas beyond national jurisdictions.

• Working Toward High Seas Marine Protected Areas(pdf, 1.4Mb)
• Link to document on Internet Archive(Link)