Marine Protected Areas are one of the tools being used to restore, safeguard and halt negative impacts on the biodiversity of the oceans. This year, in the build up to the V World Parks Congress (8-17 September 2003, Durban, South Africa), IUCN, WCPA and WWF conducted a workshop on High Seas Marine Protected Areas from 15 to 17 January 2003 in Malaga, Spain. The aim was to develop an action plan to promote a system of such areas to ensure long-term protection of ecosystem processes, biological diversity and productivity beyond national jurisdiction. The workshop was made possible through a Planning Grant from the J.M. Kaplan Fund.