Nature Futures of the High Seas

The high seas, defined as ocean areas outside of any national jurisdiction, are almost half of the Earth’s surface. However, this area’s remoteness and vastness makes it challenging for people to engage with the high seas empathetically. This project uses sci-fi prototyping and the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) to overcome that gap. We gathered high-seas experts from around the globe for a multi-stage workshop process, where they created artwork, identified leverage points for change, and produced three science-fiction short stories. Each of the stories engages with one of the NFF’s value perspectives, enabling the project to recognise pluralistic values for nature in the high seas.

In 2023, we approach the final stages of negotiation for a historic High Seas treaty. We hope that once the implementation process commences, our project can help galvanize ambition and anchor the process in compelling visions of desirable futures.