The oceans are essential to life on earth. Yet, marine life is at risk from increasing pressure caused by overfishing, pollution and climate change. The Common Oceans Program is a global alliance for action in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), supporting efforts to keep the oceans healthy through the sustainable management of marine resources and the conservation of biodiversity.

Strong demand for tuna brings economic benefits, food and jobs to millions of people, but also puts a lot of pressure on tuna stocks. The Common Oceans Tuna project aims to ensure that tunas are fished more sustainably by mobilizing a global partnership in support of responsible tuna fisheries management and the conservation of biodiversity in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

Deep-sea fisheries bring economic benefits and are an important source of employment, livelihoods and nutrition. Yet, stock depletion is a major challenge while impacts on ecosystems raise environmental concerns. The Common Oceans Deep-sea fisheries project is committed to making deep-sea fisheries in the ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) more sustainable and reducing their ecological footprint.

The Sargasso Sea is a unique and highly biodiverse high seas ecosystem threatened by pressure from shipping, fishing, plastics and climate change. The Common Oceans Sargasso Sea project is committed to facilitating a collaborative, cross-sectoral and sustainable stewardship mechanism to put in place a comprehensive conservation framework to protect it.

Cross-sectoral management and governance is a major challenge to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The Common Oceans Cross-sectoral project is committed to building and strengthening regional and national capacity for sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination, knowledge management and public awareness of ABNJ.