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The High Seas Treaty, formally the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), enters into force on January 17, 2026. The treaty establishes a legal framework to protect biodiversity and manage natural resources in the 'high seas'—ocean areas outside any single country's jurisdiction, which cover approximately half of the planet's surface.

A report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Friends of the Earth US analyzing the risks and geographic scope of marine geoengineering technologies, arguing that these speculative interventions threaten all ocean basins and distract from fossil fuel phaseout.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reviews various international decision-making models to assist negotiators establishing a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) in the Western and Central Pacific. It analyzes a spectrum of mechanisms—from strict consensus to majority voting—evaluating how different models balance state sovereignty with the need for timely, science-based environmental action.

This executive summary from the Stockholm Environment Institute describes the cumulative impact of global and local stressors on marine ecosystems. It highlights that over 40 percent of the marine environment is already affected by combined stressors, such as ocean warming, acidification, and overfishing. The document argues that current management strategies are often too narrow, focusing on single issues rather than the synergistic interactions between stressors, and calls for a cross-scale governance system to increase ecosystem resilience.

This fact sheet from WWF South Africa describes the role, management, and challenges of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa. It details the legislative framework, the different types of protection zones, and the importance of these areas for biodiversity, climate resilience, and economic stability. The document also highlights specific major MPAs and South Africa's commitment to the global '30x30' biodiversity target.