NEWS: West African countries are taking a major step forward in ocean conservation 🌊

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Image credit: Dani Escayola / Ocean Image Bank

As of April 2026, 86 countries have ratified the High Seas Treaty, while 145 countries have signed it. Ratification is the formal process by which a country officially agrees to be legally bound by a treaty.

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Image: Kurt Arrigo / Ocean Image Bank

The High Seas Treaty: Where Are We Now?

A legal framework is now in place, and the focus shifts to implementation - keep following for updates and head over to highseasalliance.org for more info.

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Image credit: Hannes Klostermann / Ocean Image Bank

We are facing a climate and biodiversity crisis that is already reshaping our ocean. As waters warm and acidify, ecosystems in the High Seas are coming under increasing pressure from human activities.

Read more here: highseasalliance.org
Image Credit: Vincent Kneefel / Ocean Image Bank

NEWS: Today and tomorrow, the Western Cape High Court will hear more on a case challenging the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies for oil and gas exploration.

The Green Connection is streaming the hearings live on their YouTube Channel from 10am: www.youtube.com/@thegreencon...

Gender Success Stories: iSimangaliso MPA and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project

Duduzile Sibiya

Read more here: lifestyleandtech.co.za/just-life/ar...

The project is made possible through the generous support of ICONIQ Ocean Co-Lab, Oceans 5, and the Blue Action Fund.

The High Seas Treaty offers a historic opportunity to protect half the planet. For the first time, there is a global framework to safeguard biodiversity in the vast areas of ocean beyond national jurisdiction.

Read more here: highseasalliance.org
Credit: Lars von Ritter Zahony / Ocean Image Bank

Gender Success Stories: Jane Mthembu

Jane was originally employed as a Small-Scale Fisher (SSF) Monitor in 1990. After a period of unemployment, she applied back into the programme and was able to return to the work she knew and loved.

Read more here: www.ecr.co.za/shows/carolo...

For more than two decades, governments, scientists, and civil society have worked towards a single goal: protecting biodiversity in the vast ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Read more about where we are now: www.facebook.com/share/p/18ZY...

Image credit: Kurt Arrigo / Ocean Image Bank

Gender Success Stories: iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project - Nosihle Ngubane

Nosihle is the founder and owner of Ashelelayo Trading - a supplier of eggs to local markets and online retailers.

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WATCH: Building Climate Resilience in the uThukela Marine Protected Area

youtu.be/lgm7eLhx6MA?...

Images Credit: www.marineprotectedareas.org.za/uthukela-ban...

Map image courtesy of WILDTRUST Preliminary Process Framework

NEWS: Toxic residues endanger coral reefs in SA’s marine protected areas

Read more here: www.dailymaverick.co.za/.../2026-03-...

Image: Two-mile Reef, one of the sampling sites in iSimagaliso Wetland Park's Bay

Credit: Marc Thoresson / @marc_with.a.sea

Over December and January, WILDOCEANS shared a series of success stories from their iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project. 

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NEWS: A new report from UNESCO highlights a critical blind spot in ocean carbon research that could undermine the accuracy of global climate predictions.

Read more here: www.unesco.org/en/articles/...

Image credit: Kurt Arrigo / Ocean Image Bank

FAQs- What was specifically agreed in the High Seas Treaty?

FINANCE

Treaty institutions will be funded through contributions from Parties, alongside new and additional funding mechanisms.

Find out more here: highseasalliance.org

Image credit: Dani Escayola / Ocean Image Bank

FAQs - What was agreed in the High Seas Treaty?

The Treaty will provide funding to support developing countries in building capacity, strengthening marine science and technical skills, and accessing technology to effectively implement the Treaty.

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FAQs - What was specifically agreed in the High Seas Treaty: MARINE GENETIC RESOURCES (MGRs)

MGRs, the genetic material of any animal, plant, or microbe, has attracted interest from industry and science.

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Image credit: Ron Watkins / Ocean Image Bank

FAQs - What was specifically agreed in the High Seas Treaty?

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for High Seas Aquaculture and large-scale geoengineering proposals.

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To learn more, visit: highseasalliance.org

FAQ’s: What was agreed in the High Seas Treaty?

The High Seas Treaty's CoP will begin to establish High Seas MPAs and management measures associated with connecting High Seas MPAs, including developing a body to create a management plans for the MPAs.

Find out more: highseasalliance.org

A juvenile Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) was found dead at Alkantstrand, Richards Bay on Saturday morning, entangled in shark nets.

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Video credit: Abie Seedie

FAQs: Why is this High Seas Treaty such a historic win?

The High Seas Treaty doesn't just allow the High Seas to be affectively protected, it also provides equal access to marine genetic resources (MGRs), and the benefits that come with them.

Find our more here: highseasalliance.org

Happy World Whale Day 🐋

On World Whale Day, we’re calling for protection along our coast, and in the high seas - because safeguarding whales means safeguarding the broader ocean systems we all depend on.

Image credit: Ron Watkins / Ocean Image Bank

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Frequently Asked Questions - Why is the High Seas Treaty such a historic win?

The High Seas Treaty will protect over 60% of the ocean, giving the international community more agency to protect the High Seas with ways to assess and manage human activities.

Learn more here: highseasalliance.org

Frequently Asked Questions - What are the threats facing the High Seas?

Human activity is the biggest threat to the High Seas' biodiversity.

To learn more about threats facing the High Seas, visit: highseasalliance.org

Frequently Asked Questions - Why are the High Seas important?

The High Seas were once thought to be barren and of little value, however, we now know that this global common is necessary for ocean health.

Learn more about the High Seas here: highseasalliance.org

The High Seas not only offer a climate regulation system, but it also plays a role in controlling weather patterns.

The worldwide system of ocean currents are known as the 'global conveyor belt’.

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The high seas play an important role in climate regulation by helping maintain the atmosphere's chemical composition.
It pulls carbon from the ocean surface, down to be buried in the seabed sediment. Marine organisms absorb carbon into their tissue, both of which act as a form of climate regulation.

The High Seas are incredibly varied and diverse ecosystems. They have remained undisturbed for hundreds of years and are often home to very slow-growing species.

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Today is World Wetlands Day - a moment to celebrate and recognise the 32 designated wetland sites in South Africa and the deep connections these spaces hold between people, nature and culture.

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Why do the High Seas need protection?

Globally big marine animals, like mammals and sharks, have decreased in number since the introduction of motorised whaling and fishing.

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