May 5 - May 7
‘A volcanic lost world’: a research symposium to develop a deeper understanding of Lord Howe Rise and the Tasman Sea
High Seas Alliance, WWF and the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative today announced a collaboration with the Australian Government to hold a landmark science and knowledge symposium to map the extraordinary values of the Lord Howe Rise – South Tasman Sea and begin stakeholder discussions about its future management and protection under the High Seas Treaty.
The Lord Howe – South Tasman Sea1 site has been identified by global experts as a priority site for nomination as one of the first High Seas MPAs under the High Seas Treaty due to its extraordinary biological diversity and unique ecological features. The High Seas covers almost half the planet and sustains the greatest wealth of life on Earth, yet these vast international waters are the least protected areas of our planet; currently, just 1% is highly protected.
A year since the historic High Seas Treaty2 formally opened to UN Member State3 signatures and the Race for Ratification4 began, Australia is joining leaders from around the world to call on countries to prioritize ocean protections by accelerating efforts to ratify the High Seas Treaty so that it can enter into force in 2025, and begin work to develop the case for protected areas in the high seas.
Civil society organisations are working with science partners, key stakeholders and indigenous people and local communities to support governments to begin to investigate and establish the first generation of High Seas marine protected areas which will become possible after the Treaty enters into force. In collaboration with the Australian Government, High Seas Alliance and its members, WWF, and Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, will organise a multi-day science and knowledge symposium on The Lord Howe Rise – South Tasman Sea area that brings together key stakeholders to present and discuss the existing ecological, cultural, and commercial values of the region.