I’m thrilled to announce that ‘The Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Commentary and Analysis’ has been published by Oxford University Press today. Sincere thanks to all our authors and peer reviewers! See global.oup.com/academic/pro...

The #HighSeasTreaty has won the Earthshot Prize for the 'Revive our Oceans' category! We're honored to receive this award on behalf of the Treaty- it has been a collective effort & a recognition of all the hard work by so many people over so many years: highseasalliance.org/2025/11/06/h...

With just 2 days left of the second #BBNJPrepCom, Cabo Verde 🇨🇻 has ratified the #HighSeasTreaty! 🌊 Only 7 more ratifications needed to bring it into force: t.co/iPEkvOJClQ #RaceForRatification

UNODC Expert Group Meeting: our issue paper with Efthymios Papastavridis on Surveillance and Enforcement in High Seas MPAs is still in draft as we incorporate comments from the experts.

You can read the Issue Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Our Issue Paper with Efthymios Papastavridis for UNODC on Surveillance and Enforcement of High Seas Marine Protected Areas has been published and will be presented at UNHQ in NYC on 27 Aug.

This event is organised by the @unodc.bsky.social, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2), and the @highseasalliance.bsky.social For those not in NY, but who are working on BBNJ or maritime law enforcement issues, ... 5/6

The discussion will highlight practical, legal, and operational challenges, and explore pathways for cooperation, capacity-building, and the use of advanced maritime domain awareness #MPA tools to support effective #implementation of the #BBNJ Agreement. 4/6

At this side event, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime #UNODC will present its new issue paper on surveillance and law enforcement concerning high seas MPAs, written by Efthymios Papastavridis and @atzanakopoulos.bsky.social (and @franciscoblaha.bsky.social drafted large parts of s2). 3/6

As States prepare for the entry into force of the Agreement under #UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), ensuring that Marine Protected Areas #MPAs are effectively managed & enforced will be crucial. 2/6

Interesting side event happening today for anyone attending the #BBNJ #PrepCom2 in NewYork 🌊 "BBNJ in Practice: Enforcing and Managing Marine Protected Areas in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction" 🗓️ 27 August 2025 🕐 13:15–14:30 (EST) 🇺🇳 Conference Room 2, UN Headquarters, New York #UN #ABNJ #MPAs 1/6

Thanks, Efthymios Papastavridis and Antonios Tzanakopoulos (Oxford University), for acknowledging my contribution in section 2 to this very relevant paper to be discussed at the BBNJ event next week papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Ultimately, the effectiveness of high seas MPAs hinges not only on ambitious legal commitments but also on the political will to monitor, enforce, and share responsibility for ocean stewardship. My contribution was drafting section II (MDAs used for MPAs). www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/8/...

Want to follow the developments on #BBNJPrepCom? The revamped Treaty Tracker gives you real-time updates and insights from inside the negotiations. Don’t miss a beat and follow the discussions: buff.ly/wNKtX8y #BBNJ #HighSeasTreaty

New #BBNJPrepCom Deep Dives out now! Check out the latest briefings on Observer Participation & Cooperation with Institutions Frameworks and Bodies. Plus, catch up on the updated full series covering key issues: buff.ly/261Gkg8

🌊 After Geneva's plastics treaty disappointment, it’s refreshing to see multilateralism cooperation at work at #BBNJ PrepCom 2! Recap first week: addressing how the #HighSeasTreaty will operate in practice. Bringing the Agreement to life with constructive discussions! 🙌 @highseasalliance.bsky.social

On track to disburse > €20 million worth of #OceanOptimism in 2025 thanks to @oceanweigand.bsky.social & team 🎉 Thanks for continue investing in #30by30 🇩🇪 @bmz.de 🇳🇴@norad.no 🇫🇷 @afd-france.bsky.social 🇸🇪@swedishmfa.bsky.social 🇮🇪 @irishaid.bsky.social

The ocean is crucial life-support for our planet and a key source of sustainable development. Yet, ocean protection is sorely underfunded. Germany's #HLPF side event showcased solutions to close the funding gap and utilize synergies between #SDGs to harness the power of the oceans.

Walk the Nice talk. Better yet, run! "Walking the Nice Talk", my op-ed one week after #UNOC3, published by @iisd.org SDG Knowledge Hub one week after #UNOC3, the Nice Ocean Conference. sdg.iisd.org/commentary/g...

📣 Four+ years in the making, reviewed by 33 scientists, preceded by three papers and presentations on five continents 🌍 — my book on Marine Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) will be released on October 1st, 2025! 📘🐟🧪🌊🦑

This is the equivalent of smuggling whole generations of preschoolers as they line up for the school bus 'Glass eels' aren't a species, they're the vulnerable young of European Eels, swimming up river to their freshwater adult homes after spending their infant nursery years at the sea.

Glass eel smuggling booms despite bans, leaving species on the brink

#UNOC3 saw an unprecedented wave of ratification that brought us close to 60. But which countries ratified and which signed the #BBNJ Treaty at UNOC? Find out in our Ratification Tracker. More on the UNOC Special Treaty event ↩️ #RaceForRatification buff.ly/9RZrSSp

Really looking forward to this gathering of the Vienna Ocean community at the sidelines of @esa.int 's Living Planet Symposium. Thanks @envpoluniwien.bsky.social and @iddri.bsky.social for co-organising!

📍 Marietta-Blau-Saal at University of Vienna 🕰️ June 24 - 18:30 - 21:30 👉 Register: lnkd.in/e5UXhwqA @alicevadrot.bsky.social @arnela10.bsky.social @pauldunshirn.bsky.social @felixmuller364.bsky.social @ehildeb.bsky.social @wenwenlyu.bsky.social @carolinhirt.bsky.social @univie.ac.at

🐳 📽️ We are inviting you to a special screening of "Ocean" With @univie.ac.at, ech.univie.ac.at @highseasalliance.bsky.social and the Embassy of France in Austria we are diving into the wonderful & diverse world of the ocean 🐠 🪸 🪼 Infos below 👇

🎉 We’re on the verge of a historic breakthrough at #UNOC3. 49 countries have stepped up for the #HighSeasTreaty. Let’s not stall now & get the Treaty over the line. Now is the time to ratify and protect our shared ocean. #RaceForRatification highseasalliance.org/2025/06/09/h...

#BBNJ and #SDG17. What's the link? Our Cross-Cutting Coordinator @dkachelriess.bsky.social explores how the BBNJ Treaty enhances global partnerships for sustainable development, by contributing directly to SDG 17 & @unoceandecade.bsky.social Read more:

Starke Botschaft für die Meere und unsere funktionierende Demokratie: Die nun ausgeschiedene Umweltministerin @steffi-lemke.de eröffnet die erste Nationale Meereskonferenz, unser neuer Minister Carsten Schneider spricht zum Abschluss. Meeresschutz bleibt Priorität 🌊💪 @bmuv.de #LebendigeMeere

The Clearing-House Mechanism will be central to bringing the #BBNJ Treaty to life. At #BBNJPrepCom today, we supported early work on its core functions and called for inclusive collaboration to help it serve all countries effectively. Read more details: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke...

No better way to celebrate the International Day of Multilateralism than participating in #BBNJPrepCom to build the foundations of the biggest multilateral success in decades & a lighthouse for its future, the #BBNJ Agreement #HighSeasTreaty Some thoughts on why here: illuminem.com/illuminemvoi...

👏The HSA delivers a statement today, on the last day of #BBNJPrepCom 1, commending the co-chairs, DOALOS, & delegations for steering a constructive process and beginning to lay the critical groundwork for the Treaty’s implementation: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke...

A first successful step towards the protection of the #HighSeas at the 1st #BBNJ Preparatory Commission. Germany worked proactively towards a much needed, ambitious protection of the world's oceans. Onwards to the 2nd PrepCom in August and the BBNJ #COP!

The first #BBNJPrepCom has wrapped! Two weeks of rich discussions and a spirit of collaboration have started to lay the groundwork for Treaty implementation. 📝 Read our wrap-up blog:

On the UN International Day of Multilateralism & during the first #BBNJPrepCom, we remember and celebrate the #HighSeasTreaty as a landmark achievement for multilateralism. This treaty shows the potential for global cooperation in the interest of protecting marine biodiversity.

No better way to celebrate the International Day of Multilateralism than participating in #BBNJPrepCom to build the foundations of the biggest multilateral success in decades & a lighthouse for its future, the #BBNJ Agreement #HighSeasTreaty Some thoughts on why here: illuminem.com/illuminemvoi...

Don't miss our side-event at #BBNJPrepCom! If you are attending, join us for a discussion on the lessons learned from scientific and technical bodies under different international agreements and arrangements. @pewtrusts.org @pewenvironment.bsky.social @nrdc.org

At #BBNJPrepCom, the HSA highlighted the need for inclusive, transparent, and well-coordinated subsidiary bodies. Interventions stressed cross-body collaboration, external expertise, and full participation of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke...

Today at #BBNJPrepCom, actress and activist Jane Fonda called on countries to ratify the #HighSeasTreaty “The challenges we face from the climate crisis to the destruction of biodiversity transcend borders, they demand global solutions, forge through cooperation & a share commitment to the future”

Today we co-hosted a #BBNJPrepCom side event alongside Austria, Nepal, & OceanCare on the role of landlocked countries in BBNJ implementation, bringing important voices to the table from🇦🇹🇳🇵🇲🇼🇧🇹🇧🇴 Thank you to everyone who joined!

The High Seas cover half our planet 🌎 but has remained largely unprotected. With climate & biodiversity crises accelerating, swift action on the #HighSeasTreaty is critical. A strong #BBNJPrepCom outcome means a stronger Treaty. Let’s get this right! Learn more: buff.ly/FwauOk4

Protecting the High Seas is essential, not just for marine life, but for the health of our entire planet. #BBNJPrepCom discussions will help shape how the Treaty works in practice. Follow the developments through the HSA Treaty Tracker: buff.ly/HDdUEIB

It’s week 2 of #BBNJPrepCom! Today the HSA emphasized the need for strong, efficient subsidiary bodies that can collaborate, act independently where needed, and engage intersessionally. For more detail, read our interventions online: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke...

Don't miss our side-event at #BBNJPrepCom! If you are attending, join us for a discussion on the key role of landlocked countries in implementing the #BBNJ Agreement and the benefits it offers for sustainability, equity, and global cooperation. @austriaun.bsky.social

This afternoon, NRDC on behalf of HSA highlighted the importance of an interim Clearing-House Mechanism to support early implementation, promote transparency, and help build a strong foundation for the Agreement: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke... #BBNJPrepCom

It's Day 6 at #BBNJPrepCom: The HSA highlighted the vital role of the Secretariat as the backbone of the Agreement. Read our interventions for more detail: highseasalliance.org/treatytracke...

Upcoming 📣 To prep for the entry into force of the #BBNJ Agreement, diplomats will meet next week to decide • rules of procedure of the COP • selection process for the members of the Scientific and Technical Body • where the Secretariat will be located • many other issues #ocean #biodiversity

First up in discussions on the new Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction #BBNJ: rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement This relates to issues such as where COPs take place, observer participation, and how decisions are made

On day one of the 1st Session of the Preparatory Commission for the Entry into Force of the #BBNJ Agreement, delegates shared views on the draft rules of procedure that will govern the COP. Disagreements arose on location of meetings and voting provisions. ➡️ enb.iisd.org/marine-biodi...

The Preparatory Commission for the new Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction #BBNJ launched discussions on the terms of reference, modalities for the operation of, and rules of procedure for the subsidiary bodies to the Agreement