Hello World!

Hello and welcome to "High Seas Biology", a blog about the numerous wonders of the open ocean. My name is Matt Woodstock and I am currently a PhD Candidate at Florida International University in the Fisheries and Ecosystem Assessment Lab. I study the ecology of open-ocean systems with a particular focus on the food web interactions between deep-sea organisms and federally protected species (ex. tunas, billfishes, mammals, seabirds, sea turtles). The inspiration to begin this blog originates from an article by famed deep-sea biologist Alan Jamieson and others (2020), where the authors discuss the challenges associated with teaching deep-sea biology and convincing people to care about conserving an ecosystem that is "out of sight, out of mind". Many have likely seen the episode of "Our Planet" entitled "The High Seas", which was narrated by Sir David Attenborough, but 49 minutes of airtime does not do this region justice. My overarching goal is to create a space where non-experts can learn about the open ocean and gain an appreciation for the biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions.

Where are the High Seas?

Also commonly called, "International waters", the High Seas are the area's beyond any national jurisdiction (shown as dark blue in the image). This area occupies 43% of the Earth's surface and 95% of the habitable volume on Earth (given the average depth of the ocean at 3.8 kilometers (~2.4 miles)). For reference, the light blue area on the image (known as Exclusive Economic Zones) occupies the area that extends to 200 nautical miles (~370 kilometers) from shore. Long ago, the exclusive economic zone border was just 3 nautical miles (5.6 kilometers) from shore, equivalent to the length of a cannon shot.

Why do we care where the High Seas begin?

Within exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the nation closest to the zone has the rights to exploration and extraction of marine resources. That means within the EEZ of the United States, ships that sail under a different flag would require special permission from the U.S. government in order to fish or collect any other resources. Without this permission, the fishing would be illegal according to the International Law of the Sea. Beyond the EEZ, no such laws exist and all nations have an equal right to operate their vessels as they please.

So are the High Seas just like the Wild West?

Although specific countries do not have ownership of any part of the High Seas, there are a few regulations that nations follow through treaties. Fishing in the High Seas is managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs; see image below) which recommend management advice for nations to enact to their own fishing fleets based on stock assessments. RFMOs are composed of scientists from many nations that meet, discuss the latest scientific evidence (including peer-reviewed articles and data), construct models to estimate stock abundance, and create recommendations. However, it is important to recognize that these are recommendations. Nations are voluntarily part of RFMOs and it is difficult to enforce unlawful or unethical practices in the open ocean. Therefore, the efficacy of RFMOs has been questioned by many.

Oh yeah, and piracy is still illegal.

What organisms live in the High Seas?

From the surface to the seafloor, a vast array of biodiversity exists in the High Seas. Some fishes and crustaceans rely on floating algae for habitat. Fishes, sea turtles, and marine mammals patrol large distances in search of the best foraging grounds. Many organisms participate in a process called Diel vertical migration where they travel hundreds of kilometers vertically each night in search of food and then descend into the depths during the day to avoid predators. Literal hotspots in the form of hydrothermal vents support "islands" of biodiversity that could not exist just a few meters away on the cold deep-sea floor. This biodiversity will be the focus of many blog posts, so I won't say much more now. But enjoy this video by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: 

What threats do humans pose to the High Seas?

Unfortunately, humans can impact the High Seas ecosystem in many ways. The effects of global climate change are predicted to affect animal physiology, cause species distribution shifts, and increase the layering of ocean water layers. Increased layering (aka "stratification") could affect the vertical mixing of nutrients that promotes primary production (the base of the food web). Microplastics have been found in many organisms in the open ocean at all depths. Garbage has been found at the deepest depths of the ocean. One human impact that is just recently gaining media headlines is deep-sea mining, the process of mining the seabed for minerals (video below). These impacts (and many others) are far outpacing the foreign policy litigation that could protect this region, and to that end, we need action.

What can you do to protect the High Seas?

Once again, we return to the wise words of Sir David Attenborough (video below). Regardless of whether you live near the coast or are completely landlocked, the reduction of single-use plastics will lead to less plastics in the environment. Consuming seafood from sustainable fisheries will aid in the conservation of fish stocks, which will benefit both the planet and the fishing industry. Promote scientific discovery and science-based policy decisions. Finally, and most importantly, educate yourself and others about everyone's role in helping the High Seas. 

Suggested Reading

Jamieson, A.J., Singleman, G., Linley, T.D., Casey, S., 2020. Fear and loathing of the deep ocean: why don’t people care about the deep sea? ICES J Mar Sci. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa234 

Webb, T.J., vanden Berghe, E., O’Dor, R., 2010. Biodiversity’s big wet secret: The global distribution of marine biological records reveals chronic under-exploration of the deep pelagic ocean. PLoS One 5. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010223