Global Ocean Protection Murals Unite Artists Worldwide as the High Seas Treaty Comes Into Force
Global ocean protection murals have appeared across continents as artists respond to the High Seas Treaty coming into force.
As the High Seas Treaty comes into force, artists around the world have responded in parallel, transforming public space into a shared visual language of responsibility. From island nations in the Indian Ocean to cities across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, murals and artistic interventions have appeared to mark a pivotal moment for global ocean protection.
Following more than 20 years of campaigning, the Treaty gives governments the legal framework to protect the high seas for the first time. These vast areas of ocean beyond national borders regulate climate, sustain biodiversity and support food systems worldwide. Its arrival also triggers a four-year countdown to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, the minimum scientists say is needed to stabilise the climate and halt biodiversity loss.
Created as part of a coordinated Greenpeace action, the artworks bring together artists, Indigenous Peoples, activists and local communities from 13 countries across five continents, representing every ocean. Together, they translate a complex international agreement into something immediate, visible and rooted in place.
Artists around the World Unite
In Mauritius, the global collaboration took form through a mural by renowned Mauritian artist Daphne Doomun, created to coincide with the official launch of the Greenpeace Africa office. Conceived as a visual statement of hope and responsibility, the work reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems for present and future generations.
For an island nation defined by its relationship with the sea, the mural resonates as both a local expression and a global signal, reinforcing Greenpeace Africa’s commitment to protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
As part of the official launch of the Greenpeace Africa office in Mauritius, our creative partner, renowned Mauritian artist Daphne Doomun, created a powerful mural artwork designed to inspire hope, raise awareness, and reinforce the urgent need for ocean protection.
In Berlin, Greenpeace activists staged an action at the Brandenburg Gate calling for ratification of the UN High Seas Treaty, laying out a 5 x 8 metre 3D floor banner that transforms the square into a colourful underwater world.
In Berlin, Greenpeace staged an action at the Brandenburg Gate. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
Global Ocean Protection Murals as a Shared Visual Language
Elsewhere, artists responded through their own cultural lenses. In Canada, murals by Nicole Wolf and Inuk artist Jessica Winters addressed ocean stewardship and cultural practice.
Artist Nicole Wolf produces a mural celebrating the Global Ocean Treaty coming into force on January 17, 2026, with preparatory sketches documenting the process behind the final work.
Artist Nicole Wolf produces a mural celebrating the Global Ocean Treaty coming into force on January 17, 2026. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Inuk artist Jessica Winters created an ocean-themed mural in Makkovik depicting Inuit ocean stewardship, including seal hunting for food. The work highlights a culturally significant practice distinct from historic industrial seal hunts, which alongside climate change and habitat degradation contributed to past population declines.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Inuk artist Jessica Winters created an ocean-themed mural in Makkovik. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
In Senegal, Austria, Slovenia, Mexico and Japan, artists worked with local communities to create works that translated ocean protection into distinct visual languages shaped by place and history.
Global reach. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
A Message to the UK
Meanwhile, in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, UK artist Richt unveiled a mural featuring a message in a bottle resting on the ocean floor. Addressed to the UK government, the work calls for the Treaty to be fully passed into UK law, urging the country to join the 81 nations, including France, Spain, China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, that have already done so.
Richt’s mural depicts a message in a bottle resting on the ocean floor, surrounded by marine life including a turtle, an angelfish and coral forms. Addressed directly to the UK government, the bottle feels less like a symbol and more like an unanswered appeal.
A striking new mural is unveiled in St Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex, to celebrate a landmark moment for global ocean protection: the High Seas Treaty coming into force. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
“…A constellation of ocean sanctuaries where marine life, from colourful corals to majestic whales, can thrive is within reach. But we will only get there if the UK signs the Treaty into law and puts forward ambitious proposals to protect vast areas of the ocean, including the Sargasso Sea and other parts of the Atlantic. There’s no time to waste.” Chris Thorne, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK
Beyond the Wall: Global Ocean Protection and Cultural Action
On the evening of January 14, pianist Iris Hond performed a moving tribute at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam to celebrate the Global Ocean Treaty entering into force.
Pianist Iris Hond performed a moving tribute at the National Maritime Museum. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
Set against the backdrop of the light artwork ‘Whale Fall’, the performance marks the culmination of 20 years of campaigning to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Greenpeace Netherlands, in collaboration with the Amsterdam Light Festival and the National Maritime Museum, organised the event to put a literal spotlight on this historic victory for marine life.
Greenpeace Netherlands, in collaboration with the Amsterdam Light Festival. Images courtesy of GreenPeace
From Treaty to Action
The Treaty officially came into force today on January 17, making it the most significant global environmental agreement since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Yet progress remains uneven. Currently, just 0.9 percent of the high seas are fully or highly protected. Closing the gap to 30 percent within four years would require conservation efforts on a scale larger than any previously attempted.
Taken together, these murals and interventions form a global archive of the present, marking the moment when ocean protection shifted from aspiration to obligation. The walls now carry the message. What follows will determine whether governments act quickly enough to match it.