Climate Connections: Why is executing the High Seas Treaty to ensure sustainable fishing so chall...

Global efforts to protect marine biodiversity face significant hurdles, as only 2.8% of the world’s oceans are effectively protected despite a target of 30% by 2030. Meaghan Brosnan, CEO of WildAid, highlights that enforcement on the high seas is hampered by jurisdictional complexities under the Montego Bay Convention, where only flag states hold authority over their vessels. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing accounts for one in five fish caught globally, yet nearly 60% of marine protected areas lack the resources for oversight. While satellite technology helps identify fishing patterns, real-time actionable data remains elusive. Success depends on "conservation as a team sport," utilizing models like the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for cross-border enforcement and empowering local leaders in regions like the Bahamas and the Galapagos. These community-led initiatives create vital migratory corridors for megafauna and demonstrate that localized capacity building is essential for sustainable blue economies.