November 16, 2016

PhD student helping to develop groundbreaking United Nations deep sea treaty

Marine researcher working with nations around the world to conserve ‘last wild area on the planet’

Harriet Harden-Davies has always been drawn to the sea.

Growing up in the island city of Portsmouth, on the south coast of England, Harriet spent her formative years sailing the great blue by day and watching ocean documentaries by night.

She began scuba diving at the age of 15 and completed her dive master qualification just three years later, a passion that would enable her to explore the depths of the deep blue in exotic locations around the world.

So it seems only natural that the PhD student would find herself in New York City earlier this year, with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), an arm of UNESCO, during preliminary treaty talks at the United Nation’s flagship building.

“I believe the ocean is literally the source of all life,” said Harriet, who is studying her PhD at the University of Wollongong’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security.

“For me, it is a place of research, inspiration, and meditation. I think I always secretly wanted to be a mermaid.”

Harriet’s research examines the governance challenges of exploring and conserving marine life in the two thirds of the ocean that lie in areas beyond national jurisdiction. That is, the high seas.

She is particularly interested in sustainable access and benefit sharing of marine genetic resources that could hold the key to biomedical breakthroughs.

“We know so much about space and about land, but there is so much we do not know about the deep sea,” Harriet said. “Every time we send a submarine down, and that is not very often, we discover new species. It is the last exploration frontier of the planet.”

After publishing a paper in the journal Marine Policy exploring the role of marine science and technology transfer and the strengths and challenges facing the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Harriet was invited to address delegates in New York as part of the process of developing a new international treaty to govern biodiversity in the high seas.

It was a surreal experience for the 30-year-old, who never dreamed her research would lead to her having such a hands on role in the development of policy that will affect the world for generations to come.

“The sessions were about developing an international treaty to conserve marine life in areas beyond national jurisdiction, parts of the ocean that are located more than 200 nautical miles from the coast of any country,” Harriet said.

“It was fascinating to see how countries come together to manage the last area on the planet that belongs to no-one.

“It really highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of these treaties, because the issues are so technical and scientific, but then the social sciences come into play, law is essential to ensuring it is developed and we need technology to implement it properly.

“It’s like having all these different threads and plaiting them together to create something that is fit for purpose. It was an incredible learning experience for me to be able to inject my ideas into that forum.”

British-born Harriet, who is a Global Challenges PhD scholar, said she decided to study at ANCORS because of the calibre of oceanic research underway at the national centre and because of its location by the sea.

“I really came here because of Professor Robin Warner, my PhD supervisor. I was in awe of her work. She is one of the first people to identify the need for a treaty to protect marine life on the high seas. I wanted to study with her, and the opportunity to live in Wollongong, and to be on the water all the time, was too good to miss.”

In addition to her work in New York, Harriet also represented Britain at the IOC in Paris earlier this year.

The avid surfer, diver, sailor, and wind-surfer will continue to contribute to the United Nations treaty on the deep sea through the duration of her PhD and beyond.

Formal negotiations will begin in early 2018 and Harriet is aiming to play a role in helping shape the way nations around the world share the largest expanse on earth.

In the interim, she is happy to enjoy all the ocean breezes UOW has to offer.

“There is nothing better than feeling salty at the end of the day.”

Photo: PhD student Harriet Harden-Davies. Credit: Paul Jones