Rethinking high seas allocation: should vessels pay to fish on the high seas?

The relative freedom of fishing on the high seas can disadvantage developing coastal states that rely on the same stocks. Securing agreement on high seas limits and their allocation among flag states too often comes at the cost of unsustainable levels of fishing and undermines outcomes for developing coastal states. High seas allocation needs rethinking, to both level the playing field between the high seas and coastal states' waters and to ensure sustainability.