Appeal for a Global Governance of Oceans, a Heritage of Humanity

The oceans, the lungs of the earth, produce half of the oxygen contained in the atmosphere.

They are the origin of life on earth.

Today, the continuation of uncontrolled human activities leads to their irreversible degradation.

Many associations, non-governmental organizations, oceanographic institutes, biologists, climatologists, concur in reminding us of the extreme urgency to act.

Without result.

The Oceans have neither rights nor laws

Indeed, everyone notes the disproportionate power of multinational corporations,

which act behind the borders drawn by the States.

No governance is exercised, these human activities are transforming the seas

in areas of lawlessness, looting, poaching, ecocides and barbarism.

A multitude of organizations, international agencies, commissions

are in charge of World Oceans issues.

They agree to denounce the impact of these activities

but do not communicate among themselves and are powerless to act.

They do not benefit from any delegation of power from the States.

Since the oceans form a single ecosystem,

a sector-by-sector approach, as it currently exists, is doomed to fail.

For a world authority of Oceans

The Global Ocean is a common good of humanity.

It must be protected and placed above the Nation States,

above the borders drawn by the States.

It is urgent to protect the World Ocean by a single Authority,

democratically elected by the peoples of the world and endowed with real powers of enforcement.