Pristine Seas is an exploration, research and media project to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. The project was conceived in 2008 by Dr. Enric Sala, who was inspired by fellow National Geogaphic Explorer Dr. J. Michael Fay and his work to protect the last pristine forests in West Africa. Since 2009, Pristine Seas has conducted expeditions to ten of the most pristine places in the ocean, from the Arctic to temperate seas to the tropics. During these expeditions, a team of top international scientists and National Geographic filmmakers documented the underwater and coastal ecosystems. From this effort, they produced scientific papers, reports, as well as articles, films and other media. After the expeditions, Enric and local partners reach out and work with the political leaders of the countries that own these pristine places to communicate their value and make the case for protection. Already, five of the places that Pristine Seas have worked in have been protected covering a total of almost half a million square kilometers. These marine reserves protect biodiversity, help build resiliency in marine ecosystems to global warming, and can foster economic development through ecotourism and enhanced fisheries.
The Global Ocean Commission has charted True North for protection of the High Seas. The effort is all the more impressive because it brought together a range of disparate voices behind its consensus findings. -Enric Sala
Setting up a High Seas Regeneration Zone where regional fishery management organizations have not taken such action. Ensuring that fish stocks are replenished, as well as equitably and sustainably shared for present and future generations.
The Commission recognises that continued scientific findings are necessary to evaluate the cumulative impacts of human activities on the high seas so that informed decisions can be made about reversing the degradation of the global ocean. This said, the precautionary principle tells us that a lack of scientific information cannot be a reason for inaction by the international community if we are to ensure the health of the global ocean.
We are convinced that our proposals, if implemented, would reverse the cycle of degradation. But there is a long history of good proposals not being implemented. If this happens, and the result is the continued decline of the high seas, it will impact the whole ocean and people and systems across the planet because of the specific regenerative capacity of the high seas.
We are concerned to ensure that if the health of the global ocean does not improve, then consequences should follow to save this vital natural resource. The Global Ocean Accountability Board should provide independent monitoring of progress. If it reports continued decline after a period of, say, five years or similarly short period of time, then the world community of States should consider turning the high seas – with the exception of those areas where RFMO action is effective – into a regeneration zone where industrial fishing is prevented. Such action would need to take account of RFMO functions within EEZs; and would need to include provision for the ban to be lifted as effective proposals for resource management are put in place for the conservation and management of living resources in the respective areas. The objective of this trigger mechanism and the associated regeneration zone concept is to make fish stocks sustainable for present and future generations, and to replenish ocean life equitably to secure the wellbeing of this global commons for the health of the planet, its people and its biodiversity.