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Deep reefs below 30 m provide essential ecosystem services for ocean health and human well‐being such as food security and climate change resilience. Yet, deep reefs remain poorly researched and largely unprotected, including in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Here, we assessed current conservation approaches in the WIO focusing on deep reefs, using a combination of online surveys and semi‐structured interviews. Results indicated that deep‐reef data are sparse and commonly stemming from non‐peer‐reviewed or non‐publicly available sources, and are often not used to inform conservation of WIO marine protected areas. Based on those findings, we co‐developed a framework with WIO stakeholders comprising recommendations linked to specific actions to be undertaken by regional actors to improve the capacity of the region to collect and share deep‐reef information. We hope this framework will enhance deep‐reef stewardship and management throughout the WIO and thus aid sustainable blue economic growth in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of all the interconnected threats facing the planet, the top two are the climate and the biodiversity crises. Neither problem will be solved if we ignore the ocean. To turn the tide in favour of humanity and a habitable planet, we need to recognize and better value the fundamental role that the ocean plays in the earth system, and prioritize the urgent action needed to heal and protect the ocean at the 'Earthscape' level – the planetary scale at which processes to support life operate.The countries gathering at COP26 have unparalleled political capacity and leadership to make this happen. COP26 could be the turning point, but there must be commitment to united action for the ocean, as well as planning to meet those commitments, based on science‐led solutions that address the interconnectivity of the ocean, climate, and biodiversity.Key ways in which the ocean both contributes to and acts as the major buffer for climate change are summarized, focusing on temperature, but not forgetting the role of storing carbon. It is noted with 'high confidence' that the ocean has stored 91% of the excess heat from global warming, with land, melting ice, and the atmosphere only taking up approximately 5, 3, and 1%, respectively.We also highlight the impact of the recent large release of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere during the 2015–2016 El Niño. We then present six science‐based policy actions that form a recovery stimulus package for people, climate, nature, and the planet. Our proposals highlight what is needed to view, value, and treat the planet, including the ocean, for the benefit and future of all life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean crisis is urgent and central to human wellbeing and life on Earth; past and current activities are damaging the planet's main life support system for future generations. We are witnessing an increase in ocean heat, disturbance, acidification, bio‐invasions and nutrients, and reducing oxygen levels. Several of these act like ratchets: once detrimental or negative changes have occurred, they may lock in place and may not be reversible, especially at gross ecological and ocean process scales.Each change may represent a loss to humanity of resources, ecosystem function, oxygen production and species. The longer we pursue unsuitable actions, the more we close the path to recovery and better ocean health and greater benefits for humanity in the future.We stand at a critical juncture and have identified eight priority issues that need to be addressed in unison to help avert a potential ecological disaster in the global ocean. They form a purposely ambitious agenda for global governance and are aimed at informing decision‐makers at a high level. They should also be of interest to the general public.Of all the themes, the highest priority is to rigorously address global warming and limit surface temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2100, as warming is the pre‐eminent factor driving change in the ocean. The other themes are establishing a robust and comprehensive High Seas Treaty, enforcing existing standards for Marine Protected Areas and expanding their coverage, especially in terms of high levels of protection, adopting a precautionary pause on deep‐sea mining, ending overfishing and destructive fishing practices, radically reducing marine pollution, putting in place a financing mechanism for ocean management and protection, and lastly, scaling up science/data gathering and facilitating data sharing.By implementing all eight measures in unison, as a coordinated strategy, we can build resilience to climate change, help sustain fisheries productivity, particularly for low‐income countries dependent on fisheries, protect coasts (e.g. via soft‐engineering/habitat‐based approaches), promote mitigation (e.g. carbon storage) and enable improved adaptation to rapid global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In responding to Laffoley et al. (2020) on 'Evolving the narrative for protecting a rapidly changing ocean, post COVID-19', Ota, Allison & Fabinyi (2021) raise three risks that the "One Ocean" concept may convey: (1) it could undermine the adaptability to local contexts in solutions to sustainability problems; (2) it might give the false impression that benefits from the ocean are equitably shared by all; and (3) it potentially overlooks the diversity of knowledge systems and values. Response to Ota, Allison and Fabinyi on 'Evolving the narrative for protecting a rapidly changing ocean, post COVID-19' Put simply, strong ocean connections, achieved through mixing, circulation, animal migrations and human activities, mean that perturbations in one place will affect distant waters and distant peoples. [Extracted from the article]