COBRA Webinar – May 2023

What the UN’s High Seas Treaty Means for Deep-Sea Science

Dr. Jeff Marlow (Boston University)
Dr. Rebecca Helm (Georgetown University)

In early March, the UN reached an agreement on a new treaty governing the sustainable use of biodiversity on the high seas. It was the culmination of several years of work, and, once the treaty enters force, the new regulations will apply to oceanographic work beyond national jurisdictions. This talk will step through the four pillars of the treaty, highlighting the specific ways in which the text may affect scientific research efforts. Particular areas of focus will be cruise notifications, sample and sequence sharing, opportunities for capacity building, and the role of scientific expertise in shaping treaty specifics in the years to come.