Walking the talk: voluntary actions on marine protected areas on the high seas
Abstract
Consensus-building in multilateral sectoral organizations can be crucial to the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas. While the consensus procedure can be abused to block collective decisions, the obligation-alone nature of MPAs allows states to observe those MPA proposals voluntarily without undermining formal negotiations. When implemented collectively in particular scenarios, such actions can deliver cumulative conservation efforts and alter the political dynamics to complement decision-making.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Coastal and Marine Management
International Maritime Law Issues
Maritime Security and History
Publication details
- Journal / source
- npj Ocean Sustainability
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 19 January 2026
- Language
- EN