By Sonia Violante Ptasznik, Brazilian High Seas Youth Ambassador
The High Seas are international waters located approximately 370 km from the coast, housing about 95% of marine biodiversity. They play a crucial role in climate regulation, produce approximately 50% of the world’s oxygen, and capture about 25% of carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, only 1% of the High Seas are currently protected or highly protected, a situation that urgently needs to change, especially in the context of climate change and global warming.
As a High Seas Youth Ambassador, one of my primary goals is to raise awareness among Brazilians about the importance of the High Seas and the direct impact our actions have on this critical ecosystem. To this end, one of my current initiatives involves the creation of a large-scale artistic mural designed to showcase the magnificence of marine biodiversity and highlight the vast richness of our oceans. Through this artwork, we emphasize the need to protect and advocate for the future of the High Seas.
The mural was created by the artist Alexandre Huber Arte Marinha, who is considered one of the top ten marine artists in the world. It was displayed at the Santos Municipal Aquarium, located in one of Brazil’s most economically significant cities, which is home to the largest port in Latin America. The artwork holds considerable value, given that the aquarium is the most visited public park in the State of São Paulo, attracting around one million visitors annually.
For 15 years, the artist has passionately dedicated his work to marine environmental protection, aiming to raise awareness among the Brazilian population about the importance of ocean conservation. He believes that art is a vital tool for this mission due to its broad accessibility, especially in reaching younger audiences, and sees it as his responsibility to impart this knowledge to future generations. Through his efforts, Huber aims to contribute to nurturing the future ocean guardians. This campaign underscores the power of art as an effective and democratic means of communication.
Through this mural, I aim to bring the Brazilian public closer to the High Seas, even if they may not have direct contact with it. It is about educating through art on the urgency of fighting for a more sustainable future and encouraging everyone to play their part in creating a better world.
Additionally, my campaigns engage with other Brazilian institutions, including the Mantas do Brasil project, by creating social media posts and mobilizing youth. I am also collaborating with the Environmental Secretariat to primarily address the discharge of Brazilian rivers into the sea. Furthermore, I am delivering lectures on the High Seas throughout Brazil, reaching all sorts of audiences at universities, Amazonian communities, and youth organizations.
In this context, one of the major challenges in Brazil is mobilizing public authorities to enact legislation and enforcement actions to support the High Seas Treaty. Currently, Brazil has signed the High Seas Treaty but has not yet ratified it. This situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. To this end, we are working to engage the Brazilian public to pressure our government and legislators. A petition in support of the High Seas Treaty has been created, and the more signatures we gather, the greater our capacity for mobilization.
Recently, I sent an official letter to the Brazilian Office of the National Secretary for Climate Change and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change expressing my support for the High Seas Treaty and the necessity for Brazil to ratify it. In response, they expressed their support for the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement and are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate its approval by the National Congress.
The Brazilian government is strongly committed to expediting this ratification, recognizing the importance of ensuring ocean sustainability and leading global efforts in marine preservation. We are fully engaged in aligning national public policies with the objectives of the BBNJ Agreement, ensuring that Brazil continues to play a leadership role in ocean governance, safeguarding marine biodiversity, and promoting the sustainable use of its resources.
Everyone needs to assume their responsibility through small actions and the fight for a better future. Every bit of help makes a difference!
Sonia Violante Ptasznik is a 22-year-old, undergraduate student of Biological Sciences. She is the High Seas Youth Ambassador in Brazil, representing the institutions High Seas Alliance and EarthEcho International.