Lisa Speer has dedicated the past two decades to safeguarding biodiversity and environmental interests in international waters, also known as the high seas, which constitute half of the Earth’s surface.
In 2023, she played a key role in advocating for the , a groundbreaking global accord reached by over 100 nations. This treaty facilitates the creation of marine protected zones in international waters beyond 200 miles from coastlines. These zones will allow deep-sea wildlife to flourish, shielded from illegal activities, overfishing, pollution, shipping, and emerging threats like deep-sea mining.
The objective is to enhance the protection and management of this shared resource, which is not owned by any single country, and to establish a framework for its preservation. Scientific data suggests that is the minimum requirement for achieving lasting ocean health. Currently, 8% of the ocean is designated as a marine protected area, with less than 3% being “”. A treaty that strengthens the regulation of the high seas, which comprise nearly two-thirds of the ocean, marks a vital step forward.
What was once attainable has become more challenging, especially given the U.S.’s shift away from leading in progressive climate and environmental initiatives, opting instead for targeted rollbacks of well-established environmental safeguards and long-standing policies.
Despite these challenges, the High Seas Treaty is nearing the 60 ratifications needed for it to take effect, with the French government spearheading the final effort. The treaty is anticipated to reach this milestone during the opening week of this year’s U.N. General Assembly, where heads of state and ministers will convene in New York and have the opportunity to formally submit their ratification instruments during the week of Sept. 22-26.
The significance of a new international treaty at this particular political juncture cannot be overstated. This marks an unprecedented climate diplomacy effort for the ocean, representing a major victory not only for the ocean itself but also for multilateralism.
Upon securing 60 ratifications, a 120-day period will commence before the agreement becomes legally binding internationally. This will enable countries to propose and negotiate the first protected areas in the high seas and improve management practices outside those designated zones. Speer mentioned, “The French have already committed to bringing Champagne to New York.”
Speer, who has been , finds joy in sharing fascinating facts about the most remote areas of our planet. For instance, the Bering Strait transforms into an “underwater Serengeti” during the spring and fall. A narwhal’s tusk is actually that provides information about the Arctic environment. Polar cod serve as the nutrient-rich “” of the ocean.
This detailed knowledge and profound curiosity fuel Speer’s enduring commitment to protecting the vast and vulnerable open ocean and deep-sea environments beyond national borders, which harbor some of the largest concentrations of biodiversity on Earth.
The —a global network of scientists and advocates from numerous universities and organizations—has identified eight priority locations with some of the most critically endangered and biologically significant ecosystems. These sites are potential candidates for the first generation of high seas marine protected areas, expected in the coming years; they could be considered the Hidden Natural Wonders of the Undersea World.
One such site is the , an extensive hydrothermal field on the Atlantic seabed featuring unique, ancient chimney-like structures emitting chemical reactions. Scientists study these structures to understand the origins of life on Earth and other planets. This extreme environment fascinates biologists, geologists, and other researchers because it is both rich in biodiversity, supporting a range of organisms from corals to shellfish, jellyfish, sharks, and eels, and sixty percent of the species in Lost City are . It is also susceptible to deep-sea mining exploration already occurring nearby.
The endeavor to establish high seas protections will outlast any single administration, and strong global public support will be essential. Speer readily admits that many of the specifics regarding the management of fishing, shipping, and other industrial activities in these areas still need to be resolved; this agreement is intended to serve as the foundation for that work.
Once it becomes international law, the treaty has the potential to protect a significant portion of the ocean by creating marine parks in the high seas, sharing profits from commercial products derived from international waters, and implementing programs to promote equitable marine research and technology in developing countries. It also outlines stricter management practices for human activities outside of protected zones. This represents a crucial milestone—and, in today’s context, a moral necessity—but it is only the beginning. In many respects, it marks the starting point.
“The reward for hard work is more hard work,” Speer said, “and there is plenty of that ahead.”
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