Reflections from the High Seas Alliance Annual Planning Meeting

High Seas Alliance Family

The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, yet the high seas, which are the vast ocean areas beyond any nation's jurisdiction, typically starting 200 nautical miles from coastlines, make up over two-thirds of this body of water and have long existed in a governance gap, vulnerable to overexploitation, environmental degradation, and the effects of climate change. This October 21-24, I had the opportunity of attending the High Seas Alliance (HSA) Annual Planning Meeting at Bangkok, Thailand, a gathering of the High Seas Alliance Members and Family to tackle the future of the High Seas Treaty as it enters into force.

A Collective Vision for the High Seas

I was honored to attend as a High Seas Youth Ambassador, alongside Sean Russell and Stacey Rafalowski from EarthEcho International, where our mission centered on emphasizing meaningful and inclusive youth engagement. As young people increasingly recognize their stake in ocean health, ensuring their voices are heard and their participation is valued has never been more important.

Parker Shane Manalaysay, with Sean Russell and Stacey Rafalowski from EarthEcho International

The meeting brought together a diverse coalition of ocean advocates, legal experts, scientists, and conservation leaders with a shared commitment to protecting the high seas. The energy in the room was filled with optimism on the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).

Day 1: Laying the Foundation

The first day set the stage with comprehensive updates on treaty ratification. Watching the ratification numbers climb has been nothing short of exhilarating. Each country that signs on represents not just a political commitment, but a recognition that our ocean's future demands unprecedented international cooperation. We also emphasized that even though we've reached the required number of ratifications for the treaty to operationalize, it remains imperative that more countries ratify the treaty to achieve maximum cooperation and truly global participation. As of this writing, 75 countries have ratified the High Seas Treaty, a victory to advance ocean protection and climate action.

We also dove deep into preparations for PrepCom3 or the third session of the Preparatory Committee which will lay crucial groundwork for implementing the treaty. These technical discussions exist for developing institutional arrangements, establishing rules of procedure, and ensuring that when the treaty enters into force, we're ready to hit the ground running.

Day 2: Protecting the Blue Planet

Day two focused on one of the treaty's most groundbreaking provisions which is the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction. For the first time in history we can fundamentally reshape ocean conservation by having a legal framework to establish protected areas in international waters.

The discussions were both inspiring and challenging. There were very highly technical questions that didn't have simple answers. It personally left me very overwhelmed, but the collective expertise in the room gave me confidence that we're approaching them thoughtfully.

We also began mapping out preparations for the first Conference of Parties (COP1), which will serve as the treaty's decision-making body. The COP will be a platform where member states gather to make binding decisions about implementation, and where policy becomes practice. The anticipation of this first meeting is immense as it will set the tone for decades of ocean governance to come.

What struck me most was the recognition that MPAs are about understanding ecosystem connectivity, respecting traditional knowledge, and acknowledging that ocean health and human wellbeing are inseparably linked.

Day 3: From Agreement to Action

The final day shifted our focus to implementation and communication where we took this historic agreement from paper to reality. We explored how different provisions of the treaty would be operationalized, from Environmental Impact Assessments for activities in the high seas to mechanisms for sharing benefits from marine genetic resources.

The communications strategy discussions were particularly energizing. Some questions that need to be considered include:

• How do we optimize our engagement strategy to accommodate different sectors like the youth? 

• How do we move forward in our communications strategy as we transition the status of the treaty? 

These questions pushed us to think creatively about meeting diverse audiences where they are, using platforms and messaging that resonate with their unique perspectives and concerns.

We also discussed the critical role of youth engagement where they should not be taken as token participants, but as genuine partners in ocean stewardship. Young people inject fresh perspectives, digital fluency, and a personal stake in long-term ocean health. They're not just the leaders of tomorrow but they're the advocates, innovators, and activists of today who are aware of the state of our vulnerable oceans. They are the ones who will inherit the ocean so it is essential that they are part of the conversation.

The Weight and Wonder of It All

With all honesty, each day felt long and, at times, overwhelming. The technical complexity, the political nuances, the sheer scope of what we're trying to achieve can feel daunting. There were moments when the legal and technical jargon made my head spin.

But these challenges were balanced by moments of inspiration. Hearing passionate members share their decades-long experience at the table. Recognizing that despite our diverse backgrounds and perspectives, everyone in that room shared an unwavering commitment to ocean protection.

The HSA family welcomed me with open arms, generously sharing their knowledge, experience, and hope. I learned not just about treaty provisions and policy mechanisms, but about the power of sustained advocacy, the importance of building coalitions, and the reality that transformative change requires vision, ambition and persistence.

A Celebration of Ocean Protection

My biggest takeaway from this experience transcends policy details or implementation strategies. It's that the upcoming entry into force of the High Seas Treaty deserves tremendous celebration. This represents what may be the most ambitious ocean protection effort in human history.

For decades, the high seas existed in a legal gray zone where it belongs to everyone and therefore protected by no one. Overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and the looming threat of deep-sea mining proceeded largely unchecked. The treaty changes that fundamentally. It acknowledges that areas beyond national jurisdiction aren't lawless frontiers to be exploited, but shared heritage requiring collective stewardship.

But this achievement isn't solely about the treaty itself, but also it's about the people behind it and the people who depend on it. The negotiators who spent years in windowless conference rooms hammering out compromise language. The HSA family who provided the support for countries as they ratify the treaty. The advocates who kept ocean health on the political agenda when other issues dominated headlines. The Indigenous communities who shared traditional knowledge and perspectives. The philanthropists who funded this work. The millions of people worldwide who signed petitions, and made efforts that demanded their governments to act.

I also want to highlight the youth involved in this work. There's something different about how young people approach ocean advocacy because they're not willing to settle for small wins when bigger change is possible. They organize, they show up, and they keep pushing. For them, ocean health isn't just an environmental concern but a stake about their future, plain and simple.

Looking Forward

As I reflect on these three intensive days, I'm filled with both hope and resolve. Hope, because the High Seas Treaty proves that international cooperation on seemingly intractable challenges is possible. Resolve, because I know that the real work is just beginning.

Ratification is just the first step. Implementation will require sustained political will, funding, monitoring and enforcement, and continued engagement from civil society. We'll face setbacks and challenges. Progress will sometimes feel frustratingly slow. But the foundation has been laid, and the path forward. 

The high seas belong to all of us. Their protection requires all of us. And with the entry into force of this treaty, we finally have the tools to fulfill our collective responsibility to the blue heart of our planet.