Eighteenth century concepts of the freedom of the ocean are simply irresponsible today. There are far too many people, far too many economic interests, far too much bathing in anonymity, to declare the larger part of the world to be a commons that can be pillaged without accountability or culpability. Fifty years ago, Osborn observed that less than one percent of the federal budget is spent for conservation. The time is more than ripe for mid-ocean waters to receive international environmental protection. And the seeds of discontent that they are not already protected are all around us.
Discussions are also afoot on setting aside seamounts as ocean reserves.
The pressures are building. We would be presumptuous indeed to assume that we have found the last unique habitat in the ocean. And one could argue that we simply lack the information to make such decisions. And the history of human endeavor on land tells us the inevitable results. Fishing is a good thing, and we would not presume to argue otherwise.