The new United Nations High Seas Treaty (see Nature https://doi.org/j6f3; 2023) provides a path to generating conservation, economic and social-equity gains at global and national scales from a single policy change: close the high seas to fishing. The treaty requires only three-quarters of member countries to vote to establish a marine protected area, making all of these goals politically feasible.
Competing Interests
The author declares no competing interests.
