After decades of tireless work from the global ocean community, “the ship has reached the shore.” President of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, Rena Lee of Singapore, emotionally delivered the news Saturday night, March 4th, that the @unitednations reached a monumental agreement on a treaty to protect the high seas – the first of its kind. Scientists, conservationists, and diplomats alike are over the moon about this historic agreement, but you may wonder why a high seas treaty causes such an uproar of celebration. Humanity and the ocean’s survival are deeply intertwined. Their ecosystems produce around 50% of the oxygen we breathe, house ~95% of the planet’s biosphere, provide a primary source of protein to over 3 billion people, and are unmatched in their ability to capture carbon and atmospheric heat. Habitat protections have been proven as an effective, natural means to combat climate change, safeguard biodiversity, and maintain ocean abundance. From that knowledge, the goal of achieving 30% protection by 2030 was established to guarantee our continued global reliance on the ocean’s resources and preserve its multitudinous life. The high seas account for nearly two-thirds of our ocean. The 30x30 target would be far from complete without establishing MPAs in waters that fall outside national jurisdictions – a task that was legally impossible before this agreement. Before the treaty, the high seas were susceptible to extreme exploitation as a consequence of their lack of regulation. Through the incredible cooperation and determination of the member states, strategic management for our world’s most treasured resource is now possible. Marine protected area establishment on the high seas is finally on the horizon! We are proud to have supported the amazing leaders behind this groundbreaking feat and honored to have helped shine a light on the importance and urgency of establishing marine protected areas in pursuit of the 30x30 goal. Congratulations to the UN conference members on this momentous feat! Together we are moving the needle toward a brighter future for our ocean! Video by @paulnicklen #fyp