Paper calls for permanent ban on high seas exploitation, including commercial fishing

Leading scientists say banning deep-sea mining, oil drilling and commercial fishing on high seas will safeguard ocean ecosystems

A group of leading marine scientists is calling for a permanent ban on extractive activities in international waters, warning that commercial fishing, seabed mining and fossil fuel exploration on the high seas pose escalating threats to ocean health, biodiversity and climate stability.

The high seas, the vast international waters beyond national jurisdiction, remain largely unprotected and are increasingly threatened. In a commentary published in Nature, the authors argue that prohibiting industrial exploitation in areas beyond national jurisdiction would help avert irreversible ecological damage and support global conservation goals. The recommendation comes as international pressure builds to meet the target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, a commitment set out in the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework.

“Life in the high seas is vital to the ocean’s ability to store carbon and is too important to lose,” said Callum Roberts, lead author and professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter. “This paper makes the case that we must stop extractive activities in the high seas permanently, to protect the climate, restore biodiversity and safeguard ocean function for future generations.”

The article draws on expertise from leading scientists and ocean advocates from around the world and builds on findings from the Convex Seascape Survey, the most ambitious global research effort to date on seabed carbon storage and protection.

The authors cite four primary arguments for ending extractive activity in international waters. First, they note that the high seas serve as the planet’s largest carbon sink, playing a critical role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide through biological and nutrient cycles. Protecting these systems, they argue, is essential for climate stability.

Second, the paper points to the potential benefits for marine biodiversity. Migratory species such as tuna, sharks and squid – commonly targeted in high seas fisheries – could recover in protected areas and boost fish stocks in nearby national waters, supporting food security and more equitable access to resources.

Third, the authors contend that there is no climate justification for exploring oil and gas reserves in the high seas, given the availability of existing reserves on land and within national jurisdictions, as well as ongoing advances in renewable energy.

Finally, they raise concerns about deep-sea mining, which they describe as carrying significant, potentially irreversible environmental risks. The paper argues that land-based mineral reserves, which are more abundant and subject to clearer governance frameworks, offer a less harmful alternative.

“The high seas are a critical regulator of Earth’s climate system,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “Protecting them is essential to preserving global stability and avoiding dangerous tipping points that threaten life on Earth.”

Although the United Nations High Seas Treaty, announced in June 2023, provides a framework for enhanced marine protection, the authors note that full implementation could take years. In the meantime, they argue that immediate steps are needed to prevent further degradation. A complete and permanent ban on extractive activities, they suggest, is both practical and achievable, citing the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which prohibited resource exploitation, as a model for global action.

“This is not a fringe environmental demand,” added Mark Lynas, co-author and climate journalist. “Ending exploitation in the high seas is a scientifically grounded, economically sensible and morally urgent decision if we want to avert ecological collapse.”

Read the full commentary here.

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