Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key to conservation at sea, yet fishing is allowed in more than 90% of them. Defining the types of fishing that are compatible with conservation goals is urgent, given that the United Nations high seas treaty - a global accord with a mechanism for creating MPAs - comes into force in early 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03277-0Competing Interests The authors declare no competing interests.