High Seas Treaty

Oceans are a vital part of the planet’s ecosystem; they are an essential source of life, sustenance, livelihood for coastal communities, and a carbon sink for the planet. The degradation of marine environments is not a distant abstraction; its effects are visible and real. 

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I have consistently championed the protection of our seas. Our 2024 manifesto pledged to ban bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, reflecting our commitment that sound science is essential for a sustainable fisheries policy. We have always promoted a regionalised and inclusive system of marine management, with fishers, conservationists, and scientists working in partnership, not in competition. 

The UK cannot tackle this challenge in isolation. The additional pressures from plastic pollution, warming waters, and biodiversity decline, do not follow national boundaries. We support the early ratification of the High Seas Treaty, which would enable the creation of a worldwide network of ocean sanctuaries. 

We welcome the Government’s commitment to bringing legislation forward by the year’s end to enable ratification of this treaty.  

International agreements must also be backed by serious investment. We are pressing for greater UK contributions to environmental cooperation overseas, particularly to curb illegal and unsustainable trade in marine life.