It starts with trying to solve a problem. Dr. Rebecca Helm, Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Ashville, wanted to make sure ocean species such as jellyfish and other non-commercial species are protected in the High Seas. She complained about it on Twitter and people responded with the same sentiment. She turned to her Twitter friend, Nichola Clark from the Pew Charitable Trusts, and a marine policy scientist that specialized in the High Sea. 

Nichola knew the ropes and how to put the movement Rebecca was building into good use, especially since there was a Biodiversity Treaty being negotiated at the United Nations. The movement continued and two years and one global pandemic later, a scientific letter was written and sent to the UN to outline three things the scientists wanted out of the treaty.

Listen to the episode to find out what those three things are. 

Are you a scientist? Sign the letter: http://www.protectthehighseas.com/

Contact me to download the document Nichola mentioned called "A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas" 

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I saw a post about an article on overfishing sharks in the high seas, where the authors provided evidence on the reasons why we need Marine Protected Areas in the High Seas. 

Listen to the episode to find out what the High Seas are and why Marine Protected Areas will be so hard to manage/enforce in the future.

What are your thoughts on Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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The High Seas take up most of the Oceans, but they are not governed by any one entity. The lack of governance opens the High Seas to plundering of fish and allowing more pollution that is unregulated. 

There is a meeting taking place this week at the UN in New York City this week with the goal for countries to sign a treaty to protect the high seas and manage its resources better. Not all countries are interested though. It could be a tough sell.

Check out the episode and let me know in the Facebook Group whether you think all of the countries will sign on to the treaty.

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There is a big United Nations meeting that is going to happen in New York City soon that some researchers say will dictate the long term survival of the Ocean. The meeting has been in the works for years with countries expected to sign on to a pact that will manage the high seas over a number of issues from water quality to fisheries. 

Scientists have published on the way the high seas (ocean areas that are not governed by any country) have been treated in the past and have been outspoken on the need to better protect them. 

Some researchers say the oceans will be in trouble if countries do not sign on to protect the high seas at this meeting. 

Do you think that is true? Do you think Accords such as the Paris Climate Change Accord will help reduce climate change impact?

Let me know in the Facebook Group.

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Check out our new shows that we are testing: Deep Dive and Dugongs and Seadragons (Coming soon)