High Seas

An ambitious High Seas Treaty must not come at the expense of coastal fishing communities

An ambitious High Seas Treaty must not come at the expense of coastal fishing communities

It is the last week of the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and there is an expectation that delegates will agree on a series of topics, including area-based management tools. However, Marine Protected Areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction without further measures to reduce capacity might instensify the fishing effort in EEZs, increasing competition with small-scale fisheries.