The common heritage of Animalkind

The idea that certain parts of the planet should be treated as the common heritage of humankind is familiar, especially within international law. One implication of that idea is that many non-human animals count as objects of our species’ common heritage, that we all have a stake in. This paper, however, argues that animals should be seen as subjects of common heritage, and not just as objects. Recognising them as subjects means treating them as entities who have interests in common heritage spaces in their own right. The paper explores that idea specifically in relation to the ocean, which is the only home for trillions of animals, and investigates how it might transform the governance of the blue part of our planet.