A global treaty designed to protect the high seas is entering a decisive phase, as countries meet in New York this week to work out how to turn it into action. At the same time, a real-world example in the Galapagos shows what effective ocean protection can look like – from cutting illegal fishing to protecting key migration routes for endangered species.
For decades, vast areas of ocean beyond national borders have been governed by weak and fragmented rules. These waters – known as the high seas – cover nearly half the planet and support rich but fragile ecosystems.
