On 26 and 27 March, Parliamentarians for Global Action convened our Fourth Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the Oceans (CAP-Oceans) within the framework of the 46th PGA Annual Forum. The event, organized under the auspices of the Senate of Mexico in Mexico City, brought together parliamentarians, experts, civil society representatives, and other key stakeholders to engage in interactive discussions, share good practices, and commit to the effective implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs), including in the high seas, as a tool for robust ocean governance.
Presentations by experts highlighted the importance of cooperation for building a robust ocean governance legal framework, the widespread benefits of inclusive marine protected areas, and the entry-into-force of the United Nations High Seas Treaty in January 2026. Parliamentarians expressed their commitment to the global goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water - sharing experiences and lessons learned from their respective countries and calling for action to protect this common heritage of humankind.
Senator Laura Itzel Castillo (Mexico), President of the Senate “The defense of the oceans is an indispensable task to safeguard the balances that make our planet habitable. The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and sustain most of its ecosystems. Most of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, and the livelihoods and exchanges of millions of people around the world also depend on them. Therefore, caring for the oceans also means caring for our people, defending social justice, and, above all, assuming responsibility for future generations. Defending the oceans demands acting with global responsibility. It requires us to view this agenda not only as a national issue, but as a cause linked to international cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy. And today, that responsibility takes on particular significance with the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty, which seeks to strengthen the protection of international waters, among other measures, by creating marine protected areas covering at least 30 percent of the oceans.”
Below are the three main pillars that guided the conversations and concrete steps that parliamentarians are taking in their countries:
Participants discussed the creation and effective co-management of marine protected areas, and the recognition of the crucial role of women, among other groups, to the goal to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. Parliamentarians emphasized the need to involve local communities, and the widespread benefits of supporting women in these communities.
Dip. Kattia Cambronero Aguiluz (Costa Rica), member of the Special Committee on Environment: “We are not discussing a romantic vision of the ocean, we are talking about livelihoods. There is no more issue central to social justice than preserving our ocean. Without ocean, there is no life.”
Hon. Bamidele Salam, MP (Nigeria), President of the Committee on Public Accounts, Chair of PGA National Group: “Oil exploration has led to severe pollution of the ocean as well as impacting the livelihoods of coastal communities. For the first time since the 1960s, Nigeria has developed a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Enforcement will be stricter and involves local communities. I plan to work with other PGA members in Nigeria to put in place the legal structure to create MPAs and to ensure their enforcement.”
Dip. Gabriela Benavides Cobos (Mexico), President of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: “We must protect our coastline communities for women whose livelihoods depend on them. Ocean governance has not traditionally recognized women – women are more susceptible to suffer from climate change. For the High Seas Treaty to work, ocean governance should not emphasize historical imbalances. MPAs are not created behind a desk, but in local contexts and on the ground – they must be developed in conversation with women and they must be an act of environmental justice.”
Hon. Dr. Angela Brown Burke, MP (Jamaica), PGA Board Member: “Women in the fishery sector in Jamaica are mostly in processing, rather than capture. Like in most of the Caribbean, this labor is undervalued. The recent hurricane has affected all fisher folk but women face compounded effects because many are single heads of households. Jamaica says we are on target for 30 by 30 but presently we are only at 14 percent, so there is a big gap to close.”
Hon. Tina Browne, MP (Cook Islands), Leader of Opposition: “When we speak of the rights of women in fisheries, we speak about dignity, food security, resilience, and the future of Pacific Island communities. If we want serious fisheries policies, women must have a seat at the table. If we want a resilient Pacific, women in fisheries must be seen, must be heard, must be supported, and must be valued.”
Participants explored the High Seas Treaty as an effective tool for ocean governance, underscoring its historic framework for the creation of high seas marine protected areas. Parliamentarians emphasized the Treaty as essential for achieving the goal to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, and noted its relevance for every person in every country around the world.
Hon. Millie Odhiambo (Kenya), member of the Departmental Committee on Defense, Intelligence and Foreign Relations; PGA Board Member: “We expect parliamentarians – especially members of PGA – to take concrete action to ratify the High Seas Treaty. For MPs from countries that have already ratified, MPs must take action to domesticate the Treaty. Then they must be responsible for oversight and communicating the importance of the Treaty to their constituencies. We must especially protect women in fishing who are disproportionately impacted by activities that compromise our ocean.”
Hon. Abdoulie Ceesay, MP (The Gambia), Deputy Majority Leader, Chair of PGA National Group: “Before The Gambia ratified the High Seas Treaty, we undertook a deliberate, inclusive process to make sure the Treaty was understood by our people. We engaged communities, NGOs, business and experts to align with national development goals and economic prosperity. PGA helped sensitize and engage National Assembly members to understand the Treaty. I call on parliamentarians worldwide to make noise to assure other countries join the Treaty!”
Hon. Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, MP (Tuvalu), Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu: “Our ocean is under threat. The High Seas Treaty is the most important hope for the ocean we have seen. We should all ratify this Agreement as soon as possible. We must also strengthen community-based management for sustainable fisheries and ecosystem management.”
Ms. Emma Nohren, MP (Sweden), President of the Committee on Environment and Agriculture: “As a marine biologist by training, I ran for parliament to be a voice for the ocean. Sweden is trying to be a champion of ocean issues. When we actually ratify [the High Seas Treaty] – probably this summer – we will be prepared to deliver.”
Participants shared experiences of effective national, regional, and global cooperation – which has been demonstrated by the strides in ocean governance frameworks and is necessary for the realization of these commitments. Parliamentarians emphasized the need to engage in cross-party, multilateral efforts, emphasizing the importance of transparency and multi-stakeholder engagement in these processes.
Hon. Valerie Woods, MP (Belize), Speaker of the House of Representatives, PGA Board Member: “Cooperation also links the environment, economy and survival. For Belize, it is not an abstract term – it is existential. Fisheries, tourism and coastal livelihoods depend on healthy oceans, and depending on those oceans, the marine ecosystem supports blue economy. Ratification of the High Seas Treaty amplified our voice as a small country, with credibility. PGA allows us to advocate and build cross-party support – sharing legal tools, policy frameworks, and turning international agreements like the High Seas Treaty into national law. PGA helps countries like Belize to go from commitment, to action, then implementation.”
Hon. Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, MP (Greece), Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Ocean: “It is important to explain to fishers why you adopt these measures to protect the oceans. We did not want them to feel surprised by our legislation and so provided them 2 years to prepare for the changes. We coordinated with the EU to give them aid, and coordinated to have instruments to finance their jobs and adapt their business. We are trying to figure out how to help each of them. If you know the people you need to address, their positions and their issues, then open the space to have dialogue and build trust. They know this change will be a just transition, they will not be negatively impacted, and this is for the common good. It is important to bring the citizens with you in the changes we need for environmental protection.”
Ms. Elinor Hammarskjold, UN Under-Secretary -General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel: “Parliamentarians – you can drive progress on protection of the oceans!”
Dip. Jorge Calix (Honduras): “When we talk about the ocean, we must set aside all our partisan differences to protect the ocean. We must write laws that create incentives for our citizens to protect the ocean. We are here not to talk, but to fight to protect our ocean. We must take action on our return to our countries!”
Hon. Amanza Walton Desir, MP (Guyana), PGA Board Member, led the discussion of the Mexico City Plan of Action: “The ocean requires us to deliver – we require action!”
Through the adoption of the Mexico City Plan of Action, parliamentarians resolved to take various actions, including on the timely ratification and effective implementation of the High Seas Treaty, the establishment and effective co-management of marine protected areas, on inclusive and equitable ocean governance, and the fostering of cross-party collaboration and international cooperation. The full text of the Mexico City Plan of Action is available here.