Nel Blu — Issue 010

nel blu™ ~ italian for into the blue
stories about the people, ideas, and investments shaping the future of our ocean

Every year, humpback whales travel thousands of miles to reach the warm waters of Tonga. Here, they give birth, nurse their calves, and begin the next generation of one of the ocean’s greatest migrations.

Mission Blue, the ocean conservation organization founded by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, has designated the Tonga Trench as a new Hope Spot, recognizing its extraordinary ecological and cultural importance.

The Tonga Trench is the second-deepest ocean trench on Earth and one of the world’s most important breeding and nursery habitats for South Pacific humpback whales. Every year, humpbacks migrate thousands of miles to these warm, protected waters to give birth and raise their calves.

The region is also home to sperm whales, pilot whales, bottlenose, spinner, and rough-toothed dolphins, while serving as an important migratory corridor for sharks, tuna, and countless other marine species.

Why It Matters

Mission Blue’s Hope Spots identify places that are critical to the health of the ocean and deserving of greater protection. While the designation does not create legal protections on its own, it helps focus global attention, strengthen local conservation efforts, and build momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

The designation also recognizes the longstanding leadership of the people of Tonga, whose cultural connection to the ocean has helped steward these waters for generations. It reflects a growing understanding that some of the world’s most important marine ecosystems are protected not only through science, but through local communities and Indigenous knowledge.

Looking Ahead

As whales return to Tonga each year to begin the next generation of life, the new Hope Spot designation shines a global spotlight on one of the ocean’s most remarkable places and the people working to ensure it remains a sanctuary for generations to come.

Nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean lies beyond any country’s borders.

Every coastal nation has sovereign rights over the ocean extending about 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from its coastline, known as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Within these waters, countries have the right to explore, use, conserve, and manage marine resources including activities like fishing, offshore wind, and oil and gas development, and manage natural resources found there. 

Beyond that lies the high seas, the largest shared ecosystem on Earth.

The high seas connect every ocean on Earth, support some of the planet’s largest animal migrations, and include deep-sea ecosystems that remain among the least explored places on Earth. From humpback whales crossing entire oceans to microscopic plankton that help produce the oxygen we breathe, life on the high seas plays a vital role in keeping our planet healthy.

The high seas have long been one of the least protected places on Earth, not because they weren’t important, but because they lay beyond any one country’s jurisdiction.

As the blue economy continues to grow, from offshore wind and shipping to fisheries, biotechnology, carbon removal, and deep-sea exploration, the need for shared international rules has become increasingly important.

After nearly 20 years of negotiations, the UN High Seas Treaty was adopted in 2023 as the first global agreement dedicated to protecting biodiversity in international waters.

Formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, its primary aim is to protect biodiversity by establishing large-scale marine protected areas and creating a framework for evaluating activities and regulating marine research for both scientific and commercial purposes. It also requires environmental impact assessments before certain activities take place and promotes the fair sharing of benefits from discoveries made using marine genetic resources.

There is one important distinction:

When a country signs the treaty, it is saying, “We support this agreement.” When a country ratifies it, that commitment becomes legally binding.

On July 10th, the United Kingdom ratified the treaty, joining 91 countries that have now made that legal commitment. According to the High Seas Alliance, 145 countries have signed the agreement. The United States signed the treaty in 2023 but has not yet ratified it.

The High Seas Treaty marks a new chapter for the ocean and one of the biggest advances in global ocean governance in decades. For the first time, countries have a common framework for protecting marine life beyond national borders while supporting the sustainable growth of the blue economy.

The next phase is implementation. Countries will begin identifying new marine protected areas (MPAs), evaluating activities that could impact fragile ecosystems, and putting the treaty’s new governance framework into practice as ocean industries and scientific research continue to expand.

Those decisions will shape not only the future of ocean resilience, but also the future of the global blue economy.

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_{Sources: Environmental Journal  & High Seas Alliance & UN Treaties  & BBNJ Agreement}

What You’re Looking At:
A lone ship crosses the high seas, the vast expanse of ocean beyond any country’s borders. Though far from shore, these international waters cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean and play an essential role in life on Earth, supporting biodiversity, regulating climate, and connecting people, trade, and economies around the globe.

Climate Week NYC • September 20th - 27th
Every September, New York becomes the center of gravity for climate finance, corporate sustainability, and global environmental policy.

Climate Week NYC is one of the world’s largest climate-focused gatherings, bringing together government leaders, investors, CEOs, philanthropies, and civil society organizations for hundreds of events across the city.

For ocean advocates, this year’s conversations are expected to focus on blue carbon, coastal resilience, offshore renewable energy, and financing for ocean-based climate solutions.

If someone in your life needs more ocean optimism — pass this newsletter along.