Working Toward High Seas Marine Protected Areas. An Assessment of Progress Made and Recommendations for Collaboration

The purpose of this report is threefold: ( 1 ) to summarise current efforts aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction||(2) identify the knowledge gaps that still exist||and (3) initiate a collaborative effort among stakeholders in the ocean community to implement high seas marine protected areas (HSMPAs) using globally adopted scientific criteria. The recommendations that resulted from this analysis are based on a review of projects, organisations and initiatives addressing the high seas as well as an assessment of the current content, scope, and focus of known and accessible databases related to high seas biodiversity. From this we determine gaps, outline current knowledge, and contribute further insights and approaches relevant for the identification and establishment of protected areas beyond national jurisdictions.