A United Nations Treaty to Protect the High Seas: An Insider's Perspective

February 12, 2023

Ocean governance: Nichola Clark discusses high seas treaty

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham sit down with Nichola Clark, Project Officer for Pew’s Ocean Governance portfolio. Clark, who recently attended the IMPAC5 conference in Vancouver, BC, discusses the upcoming negotiations for a United Nations treaty to protect the high seas. She talks about the efforts of Pew Charitable Trusts to launch a data-driven, interactive tool that allows for the creation of conservation strategies to protect the high seas. Nichola provides valuable insights into the negotiations and the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the vast ocean areas. With her extensive background in international fisheries, deep-sea research, and environmental management, Nichola provides an expert perspective on the issue.

Check out this recent Pew report on steps for effective implementation of a high seas treaty.

Also, read more from Nichola outlining the new interactive tool.

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.