Marine Conservation Institute

Marine Conservation Institute Applauds the High Seas Treaty for Winning the 2025 Earthshot Prize for Ocean Protection

Maria Lopez-Bringuier — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:12:10 +0000

News Release

Marine Conservation Institute Applauds the High Seas Treaty for Winning the 2025 Earthshot Prize for Ocean Protection

By Marine Conservation Institute | November 6, 2025

Marine Conservation Institute congratulates the High Seas Alliance (HSA) on accepting the 2025 Earthshot Prize in the “Revive Our Oceans” category on behalf of the High Seas Treaty (also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction or BBNJ Agreement)— an extraordinary honor which recognizes the historic significance of this multilateral agreement to protect marine biodiversity in areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction, which cover half of the planet’s surface.

https://marine-conservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/High-Seas-Treaty_-Protecting-60-of-the-Ocean-for-the-First-Time.mp4

Video posted by The Earthshot Prize highlighting the High Seas Treaty.

The High Seas Alliance, a coalition of more than 50 organizations and governments worldwide, has accepted the award due to its instrumental role in advancing ratifications of the treaty, which reached 60 ratifications in September–the threshold needed for the agreement to enter into force in January 2026.

Marine Conservation Institute is proud to have co-founded the Alliance and our President, Dr. Lance Morgan, has served on its steering committee since its inception, providing scientific expertise and policy guidance to strengthen global efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure effective, equitable governance of the High Seas.

“This Earthshot win celebrates more than a decade of collaboration, persistence, and shared vision among partners committed to safeguarding the ocean commons,” said Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute.

“As founding members of the High Seas Alliance, it has been incredible to witness what once seemed impossible into a global commitment to conserve and equitably govern the high seas.”

Elle Bent, High Seas Project Coordinator at Marine Conservation Institute added,

“We’re proud to have contributed to this historic effort and to continue working with the Alliance to ensure that the High Seas Treaty is implemented in a way that protects biodiversity, respects Indigenous and local voices, and upholds the best available science.”

The Earthshot Prize recognition underscores the growing global momentum for effective, cooperative ocean governance. Marine Conservation Institute remains dedicated to advancing science-based protections for marine biodiversity—on the High Seas and across the planet’s blue heart.

https://marine-conservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Revive-Our-Oceans-Winner-High-Seas-Treaty.mp4

Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, accepts the Earthshot Award on behalf of the High Seas Treaty.

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Marine Protection Atlas Supports Data-Driven Conservation Planning Through Integration into the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager

Marine Conservation Institute — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:02:46 +0000

Article

Marine Protection Atlas Supports Data-Driven Conservation Planning Through Integration into the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager

Photo Credit: Single Fin Photo / Ocean Image Bank

By Marine Conservation Institute | November, 2025

Marine Conservation Institute and Global Fishing Watch proudly announce their collaboration to feature Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas) data on Marine Manager. This strategic partnership will allow management authorities and decision makers to understand where marine protected areas (MPAs) have been assessed for quality and how likely current marine protection is to achieve conservation outcomes. This information is critical to support future planning, policy making, and management actions.

"The direct impact of human activity is critical to evaluating the effectiveness of MPAs to deliver biodiversity benefits. The MPAtlas layer allows Global Fishing Watch users to see how establishment and protection of MPAs relates to the amount of human activity in these areas,”

said Beth Pike, Director of the Marine Protection Atlas at Marine Conservation Institute.

Screenshot of Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager with MPAtlas selected as a reference layer. The default view displays Fully and Highly protected areas. Users can change the filter and click on specific MPAs to see more information.

Human activities are placing tremendous pressure on marine ecosystems. Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be incredibly effective tools for protecting and revitalizing the ocean, which is reflected in the international target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 (“30x30”). However, their benefits are often hampered by lack of implementation or weak protection. A recent report, led by Marine Conservation Institute, established a global baseline for 30x30, finding that one quarter of the area in reported MPAs is not implemented and an additional third of the area in reported MPAs continues to allow destructive, industrial-scale activities that are not compatible with conservation outcomes.

In 2012, Marine Conservation Institute launched the Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas) to track and report on global marine protection with an emphasis on quality, in addition to quantity. MPAtlas employs The MPA Guide, a science-based framework that categorizes MPAs based on their Stage of Establishment and Level of Protection to connect them to the biodiversity outcomes they are expected to achieve. Fully and highly protected areas are linked to the greatest conservation benefits, and MPAtlas reporting focuses on these MPAs that will meaningfully benefit biodiversity. Reporting the amount of fully or highly protected area counted towards global conservation progress provides a clear understanding of real progress and emphasizes the importance of MPA effectiveness in conservation goals. As of October 2025, MPAtlas reports that only 3.1% of the global ocean is fully or highly protected.

Screenshot of MPAtlas' MPA Guide Marine Protection page. The default view displays Fully and Highly protected areas. Users can change the filter and click on specific MPAs to see more information.

Global Fishing Watch’s Marine Manager platform, developed in partnership with Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, seeks to use innovative technology to improve insight into MPAs, supporting science-based decision-making, management, and monitoring. It allows users to rapidly collate, visualize, and analyze scientific data on human use and oceanographic conditions to facilitate informed decision-making and stewardship. The portal displays key metrics like the apparent fishing effort, vessel activity, sea surface temperature, and habitat layers. Providing managers and decision-makers with adequate information in near-real time can facilitate the necessary improvements for the successful implementation and management of MPAs.

Integrating MPAtlas data into Marine Manager will allow users to consider and visualize where MPAs have been evaluated for their level of protection from direct human impacts. Since the Level of Protection and Stage of Establishment are directly derived from the patterns of human use, particularly over time, MPAtlas data allows users to have a more holistic picture of their local or regional marine protected areas and more directly connect the strength of protection to human actions and environmental outcomes on the water.

"Adding MPAtlas to the Marine Manager layer library significantly enhances the platform by providing clear assessment data on MPA implementation status and the level of protection for users, enabling better understanding for those working to manage and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems,”

said Charles Kilgour, Director of Program Initiatives, Global Programs at Global Fishing Watch.

Ensuring that MPAs effectively protect biodiversity is critical to truly achieving the 30x30 target. By sharing MPAtlas data on Marine Manager, Marine Conservation Institute and Global Fishing Watch empower users to consider the quality of protections and turn information into action. To explore the data, check out Marine Manager or the Marine Protection Atlas. Click here to learn more about how to contribute to the Marine Protection Atlas.

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Marine Conservation Institute Commends IUCN’s Commitment to Protecting the Ocean’s Twilight Zone

Russell Moffitt — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:23:12 +0000

News Release

Marine Conservation Institute Commends IUCN’s Commitment to Protecting the Ocean’s Twilight Zone

By Marine Conservation Institute | October 14, 2025

Today, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) voted to pass Motion 035, “Protection of mesopelagic ecosystem integrity,” at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. This landmark decision calls for applying a precautionary approach to the expansion of mesopelagic fishing while we work to better understand the adverse impacts of human activities on this vast and vital ecosystem.

Video posted by IUCN highlighting the passage of the motion to protect mesopelagic ecosystems.

The mesopelagic—or “Ocean Twilight Zone”—extends from roughly 200 to 1,000 meters deep and is home to an immense portion of the ocean’s life, possibly up to 90 percent of its biomass. Every night, many of these organisms migrate toward the surface to feed, playing an essential role in transporting and sequestering billions of tons of carbon each year—an invisible but powerful process that helps regulate Earth’s climate.

“The mesopelagic zone is one of the planet’s largest and least understood ecosystems. Its species are critical to maintaining biodiversity, climate regulation and food web stability across the ocean,” said Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute.

Ms. Elle Bent, High Seas Project Coordinator for Marine Conservation Institute, who participated in the motion’s development, stated, “By passing this motion, the IUCN and its members have taken a forward-looking step toward precautionary, science-based stewardship of a system that underpins the health of our planet.”

The passage of Motion 035 underscores the growing global recognition that a healthy ocean requires protecting even the deep and unseen. Dr. Morgan, summarized the significance of the vote, “With this decision, the international community is signaling its commitment to ensuring the mesopelagic remains a thriving, living engine of climate stability and biodiversity.”

Teams consult with IUCN member states and organizations to revise the final text of IUCN Motion 035 before going to a vote.

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Enduring refuges for ocean wildlife: Blue Parks’ Five-Year Review

Marine Conservation Institute — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 19:01:36 +0000

Article

Enduring refuges for ocean wildlife: Blue Parks’ Five-Year Review

Photo Credit: Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona

By Marine Conservation Institute | September 25, 2025

Imagine an effective marine protected area (MPA): an ocean sanctuary alive with biodiversity, supporting thriving ecosystems, and recognized with a prestigious Blue Park Award. But what happens after this milestone of conservation excellence? Oceans are dynamic, pressures are constant, and conditions change — so how do we ensure these places continue to deliver on their promise? That’s where the Blue Parks five-year review process comes in, verifying that award-winning MPAs remain effective over time and continue contributing to lasting conservation outcomes.

A Deep Dive into the Review

Effective MPA management is an ongoing process that requires sustained effort and adaptation to address changing circumstances. Our five-year review process ensures that Blue Parks sustain the Blue Park Standard over time and continue to adapt management to address emerging threats and conservation goals. To maintain its award status, each Blue Park undergoes a comprehensive review after five years. This process is like a thorough health checkup. More than just a cursory examination, the process involves a deep dive into the essence of what makes a Blue Park exemplary. Carefully developed, the five-year review aims to keep a finger on the pulse of the MPA’s management, biodiversity outcomes, and socioeconomic contexts, verifying that the MPA continues to meet the Blue Park Standard.

Like the ocean itself, our review process comprises many dynamic layers. The Blue Parks initiative is rooted in the Blue Park Standard. This Standard was developed based on the extensive scientific literature of MPA effectiveness with the contributions of over 100 marine scientists from around the world through a series of workshops and focus groups. The Blue Parks Science Council, comprised of over 30 leading marine conservation experts, has played a particularly significant role in reviewing the Standard and keeping it up-to-date.

As the review commences, our team of marine conservation experts systematically compiles comprehensive information about any changes to the Blue Park’s management over the past five years. This involves a scientific literature review, a deep dive into all updated management and compliance strategies, and interviews of managers. Just as we do during Blue Park Award evaluations, we synthesize a wide variety of MPA documentation, including enforcement records, budgets, management plans, monitoring reports, and any other updates since the initial evaluation. This new information is summarized in an addendum to the original Evaluation Report, painting a vivid picture of the MPA’s journey since first earning the Blue Park designation.

Photo Courtesy of Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary

Photo Courtesy of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and World Heritage Site

Riding the Waves of Change: What happens when a Blue Park changes over time?

Through the review process, we may observe Blue Parks grappling with new challenges or achieving remarkable improvements. Recognizing the dynamic nature of both human and marine environments, our five-year review process is designed to respond to change.

When notable changes are identified through the review process, the completed reports are shared with the Blue Parks Science Council. The Council reviews the report and supporting documentation, and they may choose to update their award decision. This ensures that each Blue Park's status accurately reflects its current performance and alignment with the Blue Park Standard.

Based on the gathered information and Science Council consensus, a Blue Park may experience one of three outcomes:

Maintaining their Blue Park Status: Many Blue Parks continue to thrive and meet our high standards, demonstrating their dedication to long-term, effective conservation and MPA management.
Blue Park Level Upgrade: Blue Parks that demonstrate exceptional improvements and meet more of the criteria that comprise the Blue Park Standard may be eligible for an upgrade in their award status (e.g. advancing from the silver level to gold).
Facing Challenges: Changes are inevitable: budgets fluctuate, enforcement can be a challenge, and management plan objectives may prove difficult to achieve. If an MPA is struggling to continue meeting the Blue Park Standard, we offer our collaboration to help bring the MPA back on track. We may downgrade their status (e.g., from the gold level to silver) or offer them Blue Spark status while we work with the managers to secure capacity and implement the improvements needed to succeed.

The Impact and Importance of our enduring Blue Parks

Our five-year review process maintains the integrity of the initiative by ensuring that Blue Parks represent the Blue Park Standard and provide models for marine conservation excellence. Holding Blue Parks accountable through regular, thorough evaluations creates a ripple effect: as MPAs maintain effective implementation, we see improvements in ecosystem vitality, which in turn supports local economies and communities.

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THE HIGH SEAS TREATY IS RATIFIED! A Historic Milestone for Ocean Conservation

Marine Conservation Institute — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:09:08 +0000

Article

THE HIGH SEAS TREATY IS RATIFIED!
A Historic Milestone for Ocean Conservation

By Marine Conservation Institute | September 19, 2025

Today, the global conservation community achieved a historic win for ocean conservation. At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, the final countries—including St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and Morocco—deposited the ratifications needed to bring the historic High Seas Treaty—or Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) Agreement—to a total of 61 ratifications by countries. With this threshold reached, the treaty officially enters into force 120 days from today in January 2026 and becomes international law.

Image courtesy of the High Seas Alliance, co-founded by Marine Conservation Institute

What are the High Seas, and why are they worth protecting?

The High Seas, which encompass the area of the ocean beyond countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), make up 90% of the ocean’s volume, nearly two-thirds of the total ocean area, and half of our planet’s surface. Often, when we think of the open ocean or “international waters,” we think of a vast expanse of lifeless water—a desert at sea.

But this could not be further from the truth. The High Seas are home to an incredible abundance of biodiversity. These waters contain deep sea seamounts bustling with rare and fragile forms of marine life, expansive, lush seagrass meadows, colorful deep-sea corals, and massive aggregations of migratory species such as whales, seabirds, sharks, and tuna. It is also an incredibly important part of the ocean-climate system, with the largest migration of animals on the planet rising from the mesopelagic zone (or “Ocean Twilight Zone”) each night, bringing an estimated 2-6 gigatons of carbon back into the deep ocean where it is locked away for thousands of years.

And while the High Seas may seem out of reach (and therefore safe from the threats of human activity), they face many of the same—and several unique—threats compared to coastal ecosystems, including harmful fishing practices at an unsustainable scale, shipping, plastic and nutrient pollution, recent threats from deep sea mining and other geoengineering projects, and the multitude of negative impacts caused by climate change: warming waters, lower oxygen levels, and increasing acidity. Protecting the High Seas may seem out of touch with the everyday needs of humans, but it is increasingly vital to ensuring our collective future.

Why is the High Seas Treaty historic?

Until this point, no globally encompassing international treaty has enabled countries to propose formal area-based management tools (ABMTs) including marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect the high seas. To date, conservation efforts have been hindered by requirements to seek separate sector-by-sector regulations. Once the treaty enters into force in January, the process of establishing the treaty’s implementation mechanisms, including specialized committees, the Secretariat, and a Clearing House Mechanism to allow for transparent information transfer, will begin. Once these pieces are established, slated to be discussed throughout the third Preparatory Commission in March 2026 (PrepCom 3) and the first Conference of the Parties (COP) by January 2027, countries that have ratified the treaty will be able to:

Establish protections (including MPAs) on the High Seas, protecting vulnerable areas such as seamounts and other biodiversity hotspots

Share profits and other benefits from commercial products sourced from the High Seas (also called “marine genetic resources”)

Mandate programs to level the playing field for marine research and technology for countries in the Global South

Require Environmental Impact Assessments for harmful activities on the High Seas (even those occurring outside of protected areas)

These four components (which almost represent four mini treaties in themselves)—if implemented effectively—will ideally allow for strong protections for biodiversity on the High Seas while centering the equitable involvement of countries and populations historically underrepresented in multilateral processes, including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Corals on the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges, one of the High Seas areas considered for protection under the treaty, thanks to the work of the Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition. Photo Credit: Enric Sala / National Geographic Society

Notably, establishing High Seas MPAs represents one of the only remaining pathways to reach the global target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (per the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Target 3). Current ocean protection levels stand at 9.6% as reported by the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), and our own analysis at Marine Conservation Institute critically indicates that only 2.9% of the ocean exists in areas that are fully or highly protected. On the High Seas, current protection levels are less than 1%. With the High Seas Treaty in place, Marine Conservation Institute and our allies are working to increase the amount and quality of these protections within the next few years by ushering in the first generation of strong, effectively managed MPAs implemented in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

What happens next?

While reaching 60 ratifications represents a major milestone for the High Seas Treaty, the work is just beginning. To ensure effective, equitable, global implementation, the ultimate goal is to achieve universal ratification, where all UN countries ratify the treaty to both ensure they are bound to its requirements and to provide everyone with a seat at the table during future COPs. Countries that sign the treaty (without ratification) are still committing to its provisions, but there is less of a legal requirement to uphold its measures. The treaty will close for signature on September 20th. Currently, 143 countries have signed.

The next major convening for the High Seas Treaty will be Prepcom 3 held in New York in March, followed by the first COP sometime later in 2026 (or early 2027), where it is likely that the first proposals for High Seas MPAs will be submitted—many of them by countries part of the “BBNJ First Movers” group led by Chile.

At Marine Conservation Institute, we are determined to continue our decades-long efforts in advancing strong, effective, High Seas protections, including by promoting Motion 035: Protection of Mesopelagic Ecosystem Integrity at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi this October, improving and updating our High Seas Protection Tracker—a tool which tracks current protections and relevant information for High Seas regulations—and contributing our scientific expertise to the development of the first generation of High Seas MPAs to ensure that they are fully and highly protected, achieving the greatest benefits to biodiversity and people. As a member of the High Seas Alliance, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, and the Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition, we have already begun collaborating with our partners on crucial groundwork for these inaugural efforts and will be sharing updates on our expanded High Seas program in the coming weeks and months.

In a moment where the global conservation community faces increasing political challenges both at home and abroad, the High Seas Treaty represents a major reason for hope and inspiration for the future of our ocean and ourselves.

Join us to ensure this landmark agreement translates to real protections on the water for us and future generations!

For more information on our High Seas work, visit: marine-conservation.org/high-seas/

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Protected on Paper: The Reality of Ireland’s MPAs

Nikki Harasta — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:12:57 +0000

Article

Protected on Paper: The Reality of Ireland's MPAs

By Marine Conservation Institute | September 3, 2025

The ‘Real Map of Ireland’ is a term coined to describe the vastness of Irish territory when its seas are taken into account (1). Ten times the size of its land area, Ireland’s seas make it one of the largest countries in Europe, encompassing a variety of critical marine ecosystems that support a diversity of marine life.

"The Real Map of Ireland." Image from Marine Institute.

As part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Ireland has committed to protecting 30% of its expansive marine and coastal area by 2030 (30x30) with at least 10% protected in fully or highly protected areas. Now halfway through the Ocean Decade, approximately 9.4% of Ireland’s seas are designated as protected areas, primarily as Natura 2000 sites under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Using the science-based MPA Guide framework, the Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas) team analyzed Ireland’s entire Natura 2000 network of MPAs to determine their Stage of Establishment and Level of Protection, linking them to their expected outcomes and revealing the quality of protection in Irish Seas. You can explore the data by clicking the button below and keep reading for a deeper dive into the numbers.

View Ireland's MPAs on MPAtlas

Paper Parks: A Lack of MPA Implementation

Our analysis found that, with the exception of Ireland’s only Marine Reserve and four proposed Natura 2000 sites, the Stage of Establishment for all of Ireland’s MPAs is ‘designated’ meaning they exist on paper but have no evidence of implementation on the water. Unfortunately, Ireland has a long history of failing to implement effective measures for its Natura 2000 sites. Natura 2000 designations are established and managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and are typically accompanied by a broad set of conservation objectives and a list of Activities Requiring Consent of the minister (ARCs). However, years after legal designation, many sites still lack management plans and targeted conservation measures to address pressures and threats on the species and habitats that they are meant to protect and where necessary, restore (2).

In addition to a lack of effective planning, concerns about enforcement and capacity have been raised repeatedly. A report published by the Marine Protected Area Advisory Group in 2020 raised concerns about unchecked fishing activity and enforcement capacity within Natura 2000 sites (3). It was found that the entire Marine Unit of the NPWS was staffed by a total of three people, a capacity clearly inadequate for monitoring the 10,099 km2 of sea covered by Ireland’s MPA network (4). Furthermore, in 2022, the Government’s own independent review confirmed the NPWS was unfit to protect Ireland’s wildlife (5).

Importantly, fishing and aquaculture are not regulated by the NPWS. Those activities are managed by the Department of Aquaculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) and regulated through separate legal instruments called Fisheries Natura Declarations (FNDs). While nearly all MPAs fall short of Implemented, there is evidence that ten FNDs partially overlap with and provide some on-the-water protection of Natura sites. Many of these measures require the use of vessel monitoring systems within specified areas enabling the DAFM’s Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in conjunction with the Fisheries Monitoring Centre, the Naval Service, and the Air Corps, to patrol and enforce fishing restrictions (6).

Industrial Footprints in Supposed Sanctuaries

The Activities Requiring Consent for most Irish MPAs are rather narrow and not very protective; however, since nearly all MPAs lacked implemented regulations, it is difficult to evaluate the level of protection afforded by the MPAs. Instead, we analyzed the extent and impact of current industrial-scale activities within their using publicly available geospatial datasets.

Mining and/or industrial-scale fishing was found to be occurring in a total of 40 of 210 assessed MPAs; however, this should be considered an underestimate because spatial data only exists for offshore fishing, and many Irish Natura 2000 sites are in coastal waters. The most common fishing gears used within MPA bounds were bottom otter trawls and dredges. An offshore seabed pipeline crosses through three MPAs – Broadhaven Bay SAC, Rockabill to Dalkey Island SAC, and North-West Irish Sea cSPA – and there are active mining authorizations within the Seas off Wexford and North-West Irish Sea cSPAs. While Ireland’s Natura 2000 sites are intended to safeguard marine species and their habitats, in practice, these areas are subject to some of the most destructive human activities that can cause irreparable harm.

While some FNDs explicitly prohibit high impact fishing, such as industrial-scale bottom fishing, others are less restrictive, such as seasonal measures or requirements for GPS use. Industrial-scale fishing was still occurring within most FNDs, even those that explicitly prohibited industrial-scale gears. Seven of ten had industrial-scale fishing occurring within their bounds and only three did not. Most industrial-scale fishing occurring used bottom otter trawls and dredges. One FND also has a gas pipeline running through it.

With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the most recent biological monitoring on Ireland's Natura 2000 sites from 2019 revealed the majority of marine habitats were inadequate or in bad conservation status (7). ‘Paper parks’, or MPAs that exist on paper but lack regulations, user awareness and/or enforcement cannot deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity (8). Without the implementation of strict, well-enforced regulations, these MPAs are unlikely to see any benefits relative to unprotected waters.

Cliffs of Moher. Photo by Centech.

Moving Forward

While the Natura 2000 Network has been an important catalyst for protected area expansion in the European Union, durable, effective measures that overlap EU designations need to arise from national legislation. This has long been known, and a new MPA Bill, originally promised for 2023, was drafted with the intention of giving the government a legal toolbox with which to create effective MPAs that provide meaningful protection. The drafted Bill, however, was subject to considerable delays due to intergovernmental disagreements on uses of the maritime space. As of July 2025, it appears the new administration is exploring whether an amendment to the existing Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 would be a faster and more effective method for designating MPAs. Ocean advocates see this is a "major downgrade" of the government's commitment to marine protection, questioning whether an amended MAP Act would be robust enough to deliver meaningful and well-managed protected areas, not just more ‘paper parks’ (9).

Evaluating Ireland’s Natura 2000 network of MPAs using The MPA Guide revealed the disparity between reported and actual protection, which underscores the necessity of including quality metrics in 30x30 tracking. Though Ireland reports 9.4% protection in their national waters, virtually none of it provides any meaningful benefits to biodiversity and industrial activity is ongoing in many ‘protected’ areas. Until clear, strict, and well-enforced laws are in place, the bounty of protected areas that have already been identified for their biological significance and critical status will remain vulnerable to damaging human activities.

References

Marine Institute Ireland. (n.d.). Ireland's marine resource: Real map of Ireland. https://www.marine.ie/site-area/irelands-marine-resource/real-map-ireland-0
EUR-Lex. (n.d.). Case C-444/21. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:62021CJ0444
Marine Protected Area Advisory Group. (2020). Expanding Ireland's marine protected area network: A report by the Marine Protected Area Advisory Group.
Classen, R. (2020). Marine protected areas – restoring Ireland's ocean wildlife II: Report on Ireland's failure to protect marine Natura 2000 sites. Irish Wildlife Trust.
National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Review report with recommendations. https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/npws-review-report-final-with-recommendations.pdf
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. (n.d.). About us: Our work. https://www.sfpa.ie/Who-We-Are/About-Us/Our-Work
National Parks and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Report on the implementation of the Habitats Directive in Ireland (Article 17). https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/NPWS_2019_Vol1_Summary_Article17.pdf
Grorud-Colvert, K., Sullivan-Stack, J., Roberts, C., Constant, V., Horta e Costa, B., Pike, E. P., Kingston, N., Laffoley, D., Sala, E., Pikitch, E. K., & Lubchenco, J. (2021). The MPA guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean. Science, 373(6560), eabf0861. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abf0861
Fair Seas. (2025, July 2). Government u-turn on MPA law. https://fairseas.ie/2025/07/02/government_u-turn_on_mpa_law/

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Promises or Protections? What UNOC3’s Commitments Mean for Ocean Conservation

Marine Conservation Institute — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 18:49:40 +0000

Article

Promises or Protections?

What UNOC3’s Commitments Mean for Ocean Conservation

Photo Credit: Single Fin Photo / Ocean Image Bank

By Marine Conservation Institute | June 20, 2025

Last week, ocean advocates from around the globe came together at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, to accelerate action towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. So what was accomplished for ocean conservation? Here’s our recap of some of the major announcements and commitments from the week and their significance for the ocean conservation movement.

Announcements and Actions at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference

MPA Announcements

International ocean conferences, like UNOC, often serve as a platform for governments to announce their intentions to create marine protected areas (MPAs). UNOC3 was no different – a total of 12 countries made announcements that involved the proposal of new MPAs or the designation or implementation of existing ones.

If all of these commitments come to fruition—totaling 5,932,538 km² of new area—an additional 1.6% of the global ocean could be protected.

The vast majority of the announcements simply announced the intention to create a protected area. These proposed or committed MPAs are in the first stage of establishment: formally recognized but not yet affording on-the-water protections. It can take years for MPAs in early stages to reach the point of providing meaningful benefits to marine biodiversity.

While these announcements serve as important indicators of political will, there are no actual protections on the water until MPAs are implemented, and they are not responsive to changing conditions until they are actively managed.

Image: The four stages of establishment for marine protected areas.
Source: The Graphic Guide to Marine Protected Areas.

Large-Area Proposals

In an ambitious announcement, President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia committed to the creation of two new massive MPAs, 220,000 km² around the Society Islands and 680,000 km² near the Gambier Islands, totaling 900,000 km² of newly proposed protections. He also detailed a number of conservation measures to be implemented, including a ban on deep-sea mining and fish-aggregating devices (FADs), and the establishment of 186,000 km² of artisanal fishing zones around the Austral, Marquesas, Society, and Gambier Islands.

It is noteworthy that this announcement comes nine years after the Austral Islands and seven years after the Marquesas Island protections were originally proposed, and both have yet to come into effect.

Similarly, President Gabriel Boric of Chile announced the 350,000 km² expansion of two of the world’s largest designated Marine Parks, Nazca-Desventuradas and Mar de Juan Fernández. Designated in 2016 and 2018, respectively, these parks are still awaiting the approval of their management plans and have yet to come into full effect on the water.

While these announcements are welcome signs of progress, the species and habitats within these important areas are not protected until conservation measures are implemented and enforced, or better yet, actively managed.

Implementation Success!

Only one country’s announcement advanced actual protections on the water. On May 1st, 2025, Samoa advanced the establishment of nine proposed MPAs by legally designating four and implementing the other five.

The implementation of these five fully protected MPAs bans mining, dredging, dumping, infrastructure, aquaculture, and fishing and regulates anchoring and non-extractive activities in 33,389 km² of ocean area, bringing Samoa’s fully protected MPA coverage to 25.6% of its national waters!

The other four designated MPAs are to be implemented in 2027. While commitments and designations help build the momentum towards protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (30x30), it is this kind of tangible implementation and active management that we need to see to ensure a healthy ocean for the future.

Marine Protected Areas in Samoa.
Source: https://mpatlas.org/countries/WSM/

Other MPA Commitments

The nations of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea announced the world’s largest Indigenous-led MPA. The Melanesian Ocean Reserve’s committed area spans 4,628,248 km² across all three countries.
Additionally, the Solomon Islands committed to protecting 27,400 km² of its national waters in MPAs and marine managed areas (MMAs) around the Temotu and Makira Provinces.
Portugal announced its intention to implement Gorringe Bank, an area identified as a Site of Community Importance in 2015 and designated by Portuguese law in 2020. The implementation of this 22,881 km² MPA will bring Portugal’s national marine protected area coverage to 25%.
The Marshall Islands celebrated their 2024 implementation of the Bikar and Bokak National Marine Sanctuary spanning 48,000 km².
Colombia announced the creation of the Serranilla and Baja Nuevo MPA. Previously included in the 60,808 km² Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, this 3,800 km² area will receive “exclusive long-term protection status.” While boundaries for this new MPA are yet to be confirmed, the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve is currently made up of two zones with only 1,936 km² or 3.2% of the site under full protection.
Tanzania committed to the creation of two new MPAs, the North-East Pemba Conservation Area (837 km²) and the South-East Pemba Conservation Area (468 km²) that together would total 1,305 km² of newly protected ocean.
Sao Tome & Principe proposed the creation of eight new MPAs covering an area of 93 km².
Greece announced the intention to create two new MPAs and ban trawling within all Marine Parks.

Barriers to Implementation

With these promises, we look hopefully toward the 2030 horizon and emphasize the importance of MPAs’ degree of implementation and level of protection as we inch closer to 30%. If all UNOC3 announcements were implemented with stringent measures and adequate enforcement capacities, the combined area would increase our global number of highly and fully protected MPAs to 4.3%. Crucially, proposing an MPA is only the first step on a difficult road to durable, effective ocean protection. As demonstrated by the cases of the Chilean and French Polynesian MPAs, barriers to implementation can make the realization of these accomplishments difficult for a wide array of reasons.

Financing, namely, is a key piece of ensuring the successful implementation of MPAs. Marine Conservation Institute, et al., released a new report at this year's UNOC, warning of a $14.6 billion shortfall in ocean protection funding and highlighted the urgent need for increased investment and effective action. Moreover, 4.3% is a long shot from the 30% target. Halfway through the UN Ocean Decade, we now have five years to protect the remaining 27.3% of the ocean deemed necessary to preserve marine biodiversity and enhance climate resilience. It’s about time to kick things into high gear.

Explore our interactive Marine Protection Atlas to learn more about the stage of establishment and level of protection of MPAs around the world at mpatlas.org.

Blue Parks

While this may paint a dismal picture of current progress towards international goals, the good news is that there are plenty of inspiring examples of MPAs that are leading the way and demonstrating what it looks like when ocean conservation is done right. Marine Conservation Institute awarded four MPAs the prestigious Blue Park Award at UNOC, including Cahuita National Park (Costa Rica), Gorgona National Natural Park (Colombia), Kaho'olawe Island Reserve (Hawai'i, U.S.), and Shark Fin Bay MPA Network (Taytay, Philippines). To learn more about these ocean success stories and the people behind them, read our recent press release.

Top Left: Dr. Lance Morgan, President, Marine Conservation Institute; Right: Representatives from Parques Nacional Natural Gorgona; Far Left: Frédéric Tardieu, co-founder of the Sulubaaï Foundation, BP Award winner for Shark Fin Bay MPA Network;

High Seas Treaty Ratification Progress

In addition to commitments made to protect areas within national jurisdiction, there was also significant progress towards ratification of the High Seas Treaty, an international framework that will enable the proposal—and eventual implementation—of MPAs in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), which make up nearly two-thirds of our ocean and half of our planet.

Nineteen countries deposited their ratifications at UNOC3, bringing the total number of ratifications to 50 with several more in the pipeline. Once 60 ratifications are reached, the treaty will enter into force and become international law. At the current rate of progress, there is a strong likelihood that the treaty will be ratified by the UN General Assembly meeting this fall.

Source: High Seas Alliance

Currently, only 1% of the High Seas is protected—a percentage that has not changed much over the last decade. Under the BBNJ Treaty, there is potential for the percentage to increase at a faster rate over the next few years as countries move through the process of proposing, designating, implementing, and, eventually, actively managing MPAs in ABNJ. In theory, this could lead to the creation of more fully and highly protected MPAs and progress towards the 30x30 goal. In practice, many questions remain as to what these protections will look like on the water and how they will lead to equitable benefits for biodiversity and people.

To learn more about where the first generation of High Seas MPAs may be established and existing High Seas protections, such as fishery closures through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and protections from deep-sea mining, check out Marine Conservation Institute’s High Seas Protection Tracker.

Protecting the Deep

Harmful extractive activities threatening deep-sea ecosystems—such as prospective deep-sea mining and destructive bottom trawling—were a major focus at the conference, with countries facing mounting pressure from civil society and ocean advocates to halt these practices or prevent them from starting altogether.

Deep Sea Mining

In his opening statement, French President Emmanuel Macron described deep-sea mining as “madness” and prompted world leaders to call for a moratorium on the practice. Several more countries voiced their support for a moratorium, bringing the total number to 37.

This momentum comes at a critical moment, as other countries, including the United States, accelerate efforts to exploit deep-sea ecosystems for their resources both within and outside national jurisdiction.

Source: Deep Sea Conservation Coalition

Bottom Trawling

Meanwhile, bottom trawling—a highly destructive fishing method—remains alarmingly widespread, even within implemented MPAs, particularly across the EU.

While the conference saw some new commitments aimed at restricting bottom trawling in protected waters, overall progress remains slow and enforcement inconsistent. Despite mounting scientific evidence and public pressure, meaningful action to fully eliminate this practice from MPAs is still lagging behind expectations. Here were some examples:

France acknowledged the incompatibility of bottom trawling with the protection of biodiversity and committed to protecting 4% of national waters from the activity (an increase from the current 0.1%). This announcement was met with criticism, with many groups claiming that this showed a lack of commitment and ambition.
Denmark proposed a law to ban bottom trawling in 17,000 km² of its protected areas (over 17% of its national waters).
UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced a ban on bottom trawling covering more than 30,000 km², about half of English MPAs.

On World Ocean Day (June 8), Marine Conservation Institute, in partnership with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), urged scientists worldwide to sign an open letter to the UN demanding that leaders honor longstanding commitments to stop bottom trawling. We remain hopeful that world leaders will hear our plea to end an activity that directly undermines efforts to protect marine biodiversity.

Overall, the third UN Ocean Conference witnessed some meaningful progress and commitments towards effective, equitable ocean protection. The next challenge, however, will be to translate these commitments into meaningful action and implementation, turning promises into protections. For years, the international community has been coming together at conferences to sign agreements, adopt frameworks, and make public announcements for future actions. Today, we are in the 11th hour—the time to act is now.

At Marine Conservation Institute, we will continue to advocate for and track the implementation and effectiveness of MPAs as we strive to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030.

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2025 Blue Park Award Winners Announced at the UN Ocean Conference

Marine Conservation Institute — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:00:00 +0000

News Release

2025 Blue Park Award Winners Announced at the UN Ocean Conference

New Marine Protected Areas Recognized for Outstanding Conservation

photo: Sulubaaï Foundation

Press Kit & Media Resources

[Nice, France, 12 June 2025] — Four marine protected areas (MPAs) were honored with prestigious Blue Park Awards today at the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference. The newly awarded Blue Parks are: Cahuita National Park (Costa Rica), Gorgona National Natural Park (Colombia), Kaho'olawe Island Reserve (Hawai'i, U.S.), and Shark Fin Bay MPA Network (Taytay, Philippines).

Photo credits: Sulubaaï Foundation, Ross Kamimoto, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación/SINAC, Edwar Herreno

These MPAs earned the Blue Park Award for exceptional efforts in conserving marine biodiversity and join a growing global network of 34 Blue Parks that meet the highest science- based standards for conservation effectiveness.

The winners were selected by an international council of marine conservation experts convened by U.S.-based Marine Conservation Institute. Awards are based on the Blue Park Standard, a rigorous, science-driven framework for MPA effectiveness. The four new Blue Parks encompass approximately 1,074 km² (415 mi²) of ocean, bringing the Blue Park Network’s total to more than 3.5 million km² (1.35 million mi²) of effectively protected ocean across 23 countries.

The announcement was made by Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute, at a high-level event co-hosted with the Republic of Costa Rica, High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, MigraMar, EarthEcho International, and The Blue Quest.

“The recognition of the Blue Park Award to Gorgona National Natural Park is a milestone that reaffirms the value of conserving life in all its forms,” said Luisz Olmedo Martínez Zamora, Director of Colombia’s National Natural Parks. “This protected area is a refuge for extraordinary biodiversity and a symbol of our commitment to peace with nature. This award honors the collective efforts of those who protect these marine ecosystems, especially our park rangers and technical teams on the ground, whose silent work makes this type of recognition possible.”

"We hope that the participatory conservation model of Cahuita National Park continues to be a global example, allowing us to create synergies with other Blue Parks around the world to strengthen protected wilderness areas, conserve our oceans, and build the well-being of our communities," stated Maylin Mora Arias, Regional Director of the Caribbean Friendship Conservation Area within Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas.

Parque Nacional CAHUITA

Research conducted at Cahuita [Photo: Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)]

Reef fish at Cahuita National Park [Photo: Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)]

Ocypode quadrata crab [Photo: Hans Hillewaert]

Cahuita management team [Photo: Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)]

Corals at Cahuita [Photo: Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)]

Parque Nacional Natural GORGONA

Gorgona aerial view [Photo: Sebastian Moreno]

Corals at Gorgona [Photo: Paola Maria Sanchez]

Humpback whale breaching at Gorgona [Photo: Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia]

Gorgona management team [Photo: Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia]

Pelican at Gorgona [Photo: Patrick del Castillo]

KAHO'OLAWE Island Reserve

Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Council [Photo: KIRC]

Brown Noddies at Kahoʻolawe [Photo: Ross Kamimoto]

Ocean Management Team, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Council [Photo: KIRC]

Monk Seal resting at Kahoʻolawe [Photo: Ross Kamimoto]

Reef fish at Kahoʻolawe [Photo: Dean Tokishi]

Green Sea Turtle surfacing at Kahoʻolawe [Photo: Ross Kamimoto]

SHARK FIN BAY MPA Network

Shark Fin Bay [Photo: Sulubaaï Foundation]

Bantai dagat (community-based sea patrol), Shark Fin Bay [Photo: Sulubaaï Foundation]

Coral garden at Shark Fin Bay [Photo: Corinne Bourbeillon]

Longfin batfish swimming above corals at Shark Fin Bay [Photo: Corinne Bourbeillon]

Team meeting for Shark Fin Bay network [Photo: Sulubaaï Foundation]

The 2025 Blue Parks join the Blue Parks Network, comprised of some of the world’s most outstanding marine protected areas and ocean champions. As the global conservation community works to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030 (‘30×30’), Blue Parks demonstrate exceptional models of effective biodiversity conservation that inspire accelerated action.

“Our Blue Park Award fits in perfectly with our commitment, and we'll never give up on the ocean. With our Blue Park Award and our community, we want to be the first NGO to reach the 30×30 target in our bay in the Philippines,” said Fred Tardieu, President and Founder of the Sulubaai Environmental Foundation that co-manages the Shark Fin Bay MPA Network with local communities.

"This award recognizes our integrated system approach in blending modern resource management techniques with a Native Hawaiian culturally appropriate framework designed to serve future generations. We are not only restoring ecosystems but also ensuring access to marine and island resources for traditional practices and cultural perpetuation,” expressed Michael Nahoʻopiʻi, Executive Director, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.

“Congratulations to the 2025 Blue Parks,” Dr. Lance Morgan said. “To achieve the 30×30 target, we not only need more protected areas, but we need those areas to effectively protect wildlife and deliver the conservation benefits that will support coastal communities. Blue Parks are incredible models of success, and the teams of ocean champions behind these efforts inspire us all.”

Cocos Island National Park (Costa Rica) was also recognized during the event for its conservation improvements. It earned a platinum-level Blue Park Award this year after originally earning a gold-level award in 2019.

Five other Blue Parks were recognized during the event for having maintained the Blue Park Standard for over five years: Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (Philippines), Cerbère-Banyuls Marine Nature Reserve (France), Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary (Tanzania), Misool Marine Reserve (Indonesia), and Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Italy).

Caño Island Biological Reserve (Costa Rica) was recognized as the newest Blue Spark in collaboration with MigraMar, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and conservation of marine migratory species.

The Blue Parks initiative highlights that the quality of protection, not quantity alone, is critical for the 30x30 target to achieve biodiversity conservation and restore ocean health.

Press Kit & Media Resources

About Blue Parks

The Blue Park Awards, established by Marine Conservation Institute in 2017, recognize marine protected areas that meet science-based standards for effective conservation. Blue Parks safeguard biodiversity, promote ecosystem resilience, and protect the natural beauty of our ocean for future generations.

About Marine Conservation Institute

Founded in 1996, Marine Conservation Institute is a U.S.-based nonprofit working globally to secure strong protection for at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. Through scientific research, policy advocacy, and initiatives like the Blue Parks and Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas.org), the organization works to ensure that ocean protection is both meaningful and lasting.

The post 2025 Blue Park Award Winners Announced at the UN Ocean Conference appeared first on Marine Conservation Institute.

David Attenborough’s new film Ocean claims that less than 3% of the Ocean is protected. Here’s why.

Nikki Harasta — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:03:14 +0000

Article

photo: Ocean Film

By Nikki Harasta | June 3, 2025

At the legendary age of 99, following a decades-long career as the voice for a planet now on the brink of climate collapse, David Attenborough delivers an important message to his audience in his most recent nature documentary, Ocean: “If we save the Sea, we save our world.”

Urging mankind to act on that message, he mentions that less than 3% of the ocean is currently protected—a fact based on analyses and ongoing reporting by Marine Conservation Institute and our partners.

The ocean provides a wealth of benefits to humanity. It feeds us, supplying 17% of the world’s protein¹ and regulates our climate, capturing one third of total carbon emissions² and absorbing over 90% of the excess heat generated over the past 50 years³. Not to mention, the millions of other species that rely upon the ocean and the intrinsic value it holds by simply existing. Yet, we put immense pressure on these important functions with destructive practices like industrial fishing and deep-sea mining, pushing marine ecosystems to their tipping points.

Still, Attenborough finds hope in the amazing regenerative capabilities of the ocean, especially when it is well protected. In his new film, he touts the benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs), areas of the ocean that restrict destructive human activities, protecting marine biodiversity and delivering benefits to coastal communities. Two of the areas he highlights—the Northern Channel Islands MPAs off the coast of California and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument near the Hawaiian Islands — demonstrate that these benefits are remarkable when areas are fully or highly protected.

At Marine Conservation Institute, we recognize both of these areas as “Blue Parks,” or MPAs that are upholding the highest science-based standards of marine protection and delivering critical benefits to biodiversity. As Attenborough mentions in the film, highly protected MPAs like those around the Northern Channel Islands show the overfished populations bouncing back in as little as 5 years after implementation!⁴

Alongside the recognition of these success stories, Attenborough advocates for the expansion of the global MPA network, pointing out that currently less than 3% of the world’s ocean is protected from such destructive practices. This is a far shot from the 30x30 goal set by 126 countries around the world under Global Biodiversity Target 3 to protect 30% of the ocean by the year 2030.

The World Database for Protected Areas (WDPA), the official repository of protected area data and primary data source for the headline indicator of GBF Target 3, reports marine protected coverage as a little over 8% as of May 2025.

So where did he get this 3% figure, and why is it an important distinction?

WDPA data is self-reported by countries and includes all MPAs from the time of legal designation, regardless of the implementation or strength of their protections; therefore, included in this 8% are MPAs that allow destructive, industrial-scale activities, such as bottom trawling, or that only exist on paper—areas sometimes referred to as “paper parks.” These areas are unlikely to achieve any conservation outcomes, creating a disconnect between the actual goal and our accounting of progress toward it. Recognizing this disconnect, in 2021, an international group of scientists and practitioners collaborated to create and publish The MPA Guide, a science-based framework that evaluates an MPA’s stage of establishment and level of protection, linking them to its expected outcomes.

Since 2012, the Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas) operated by Marine Conservation Institute has endeavored to create a clearer picture of actual protections afforded on the water by MPAs. Since its publication, the Marine Protection Atlas has worked to apply The MPA Guide to MPAs around the world and build up a global repository of MPA Guide assessments.

In April 2024, Marine Conservation Institute published a study using The MPA Guide to establish a true baseline for 30x30 by ascertaining the likely conservation outcomes of roughly 90% of the world’s MPA coverage. We determined that, at that time, only 2.6% of the total reported conserved ocean was implemented and fully or highly protected. As MPAs expand and regulations improve, we continue to track global protection and report the coverage of fully and highly protected areas at mpatlas.org. David Attenborough’s use of this statistic highlights the importance of thoughtful consideration in tracking and communicating progress toward 30x30.

As the global community works toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, the ultimate goal is not some number or percentage but truly effective conservation that safeguards biodiversity. The expansion of fully or highly protected MPAs is of the utmost importance, and an MPA’s level of protection is a crucial indicator that should be an integral part of global reporting.

This call to action comes just as the international community gathers to make important decisions on ocean policy at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference from June 9-13, in Nice, France.

What You Can Do

Attend our events at UNOC 2025!

Accelerating Ocean Conservation: The 2025 Blue Park Awards
Thursday 12 June 2025, 17:30 - 18:45, Room 3, Blue Zone (Port Lympia).
Blue Parks in Action: Advancing Effective Ocean Protection
Friday 13 June 2025, 16:00 - 17:00, Costa Rica Pavilion, "La Baleine" Green Zone (Palexpo).

Learn More and Add to Your Calendar

Watch OCEAN with David Attenborough

Catch the screening of Ocean with David Attenborough at UNOC or when it streams on Disney+ and Hulu on June 8^th.

Catch the UNOC Screening of Ocean

Support Your Local MPAs

Learn about and support your local or national marine protected areas and research opportunities to volunteer with them. The best protected areas are the ones with strong local support!

Explore the World's MPAs and Find Ones Near You at MPAtlas

Choose Sustainable Ocean Options

Make sure any seafood you consume is sustainably sourced.

Learn More

Speak Up for the Ocean

Sign these petitions to stop deep sea mining and protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Join the Movement

Support Our Work

Support our work so we can keep securing permanent, strong protection for the oceans' most important places — for us and future generations.

Make a Gift on Behalf of the Ocean

^{1 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). Fishery and aquaculture statistics 2018 / FAO annuaire. Statistiques des pêches et de l’aquaculture 2018 / FAO anuario. Estadísticas de pesca y acuicultura 2018. FAO yearbook of fishery and aquaculture statistics. FAO.}^{https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/statistics/yearbook}

^{2 Gruber, N., Landschützer, P., & Lovenduski, N. S. (2019). The oceanic sink for anthropogenic CO₂ from 1994 to 2007. Science, 363(6432), 1193–1199.}^{https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau5153}

^{3 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Environmental Information. (2023). Climate change: Ocean heat content. Climate.gov.}^{https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-ocean-heat-content}

^{4 Kay, M. C., Lenihan, H. S., Guenther, C. M., Wilson, J. R., Miller, C. J., & Shrout, S. W. (2012). Collaborative assessment of California spiny lobster population and fishery responses to a marine reserve network. Ecological Applications, 22(1), 322–335.}^{https://doi.org/10.1890/11-0155.1}

The post David Attenborough’s new film Ocean claims that less than 3% of the Ocean is protected. Here’s why. appeared first on Marine Conservation Institute.

These Eastern Tropical Pacific Hope Spots Meet the Blue Park Standard, Achieving the Highest Caliber of Marine Conservation

Olivia Richter — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:17:07 +0000

Article

photo: David Garcia

By Olivia Richter | May 6, 2025

Some of the planet’s most diverse marine life thrives within the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Recently, countries in this region have stepped up their conservation efforts, with several areas now designated as Hope Spots and awarded Blue Park status in recognition of their achievements.

In these unique places, sea life is equipped to flourish. Reefs, fish populations, marine mammals, and other native species teem due to strong environmental protections—something our under-protected ocean desperately needs. Despite more than 16,500 Marine Protected Areas reported globally, less than 3% of the ocean is strongly protected. As threats to marine life increase, more extensive ocean protection is critical for the health of our planet and the conservation of the ocean's most vital and vulnerable ecosystems. Blue Park and Hope Spot designations are meaningful methods of encouraging effective ocean protection globally.

Blue Parks are MPAs that meet a rigorous science-backed standard for biodiversity conservation. Scientists from across the globe collaborated with the Marine Conservation Institute to develop the stringent criteria MPAs must meet to achieve Blue Park status, and earning the designation makes them among the ocean's best-protected places. Hope Spots, on the other hand, are areas scientifically identified as critical to ocean health, but that may not yet be officially protected. Hope Spots are rich in biodiversity, providing homes for endangered species, unique habitats, and essential ecosystems like coral reefs, kelp forests, and seamounts. Protecting them helps maintain the delicate balance of ocean life.

Areas designated as both Blue Parks and Hope Spots have an added significance. While many Hope Spots are aspirational—places we hope to see protected—Hope Spots that overlap with Blue Parks demonstrate how advocacy, community support, and conservation work can lead to real-world protection. These dual-designated areas become shining examples for others to follow as we fight to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Below, discover some of these extraordinary locations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Malpelo Island

photo: SFF-Malpelo

Known as Colombia’s “sharkiest” island, Malpelo Island is a Hope Spot at the heart of Platinum Blue Park Santuario de Flora y Fauna de Malpelo. Over 500 kilometers off the coast, Malpelo Island is the summit of an underwater ridge, home to massive shark aggregations and diverse marine mammals and fish populations. At 10,000 square kilometers, the island sits within the largest no-fishing zone in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Schools of hammerhead, silky, and Galapagos sharks call this marine protected area home.

Malpelo’s management success is well-recognized worldwide, and it joined the network of Blue Parks as a Platinum-level Blue Park in 2017 in further recognition of its strong protection for marine wildlife. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos recently pledged to double the sanctuary’s size.

Cocos Island

photo: Avi Klapfer

In the waters of Cocos Island National Park lives a truly extraordinary level of biodiversity. At the heart of this designated Gold Blue Park is Cocos Island, a Hope Spot home to almost 50% of Costa Rica's endemism. More than 300 species of marine fish, 600 species of marine mollusks, 800 species of insects, 130 species of birds, five species of freshwater fish, and 500 species of plants live here, along with one of the largest congregations of the scalloped hammerhead shark.

Why is Cocos Island such an exceptional habitat? The area is uniquely situated at the intersection of the Panama Current and the Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent. The convergence of these currents, combined with the various ecosystems in the area such as coral reefs, deep-sea pelagic ecosystems, and shallow waters, have enabled the thriving biodiversity of Cocos Island.

Galápagos Islands

photo: Tui de Roy-PNG

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection originated on the Galápagos Islands, and the unique biodiversity found here makes it easy to see how this place filled him with curiosity. An enormous variety of species live here, both on land and at sea. Coral reefs, underwater cliffs, lagoons, and wetlands comprise the Galápagos Marine Reserve, a Silver Blue Park. More than 2,900 marine species have been identified here, including whales, dolphins, cormorants, sea lions, fur seals, penguins, marine iguanas, sea turtles, tropical fish, sharks, and rays. This area also accounts for the world's largest biomass of reef fish.

"Here in the Galápagos Islands, it's a miracle that so much is still the way it likely was a thousand years ago," says Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue. "It's an encouraging message I have to give about what has happened here because it's evidence that people care and have taken action to protect 97% of the land. This is a work in progress."

Marine Conservation Institute is currently engaged in the Blue Spark collaboration to support expanded protections covering Ecuador’s portion of the migratory corridor between Galápagos and Cocos – Hermandad Marine Reserve. Learn more about this new MPA.

Coiba and Cordillera de Coiba

photo: Ana Endara - Smithsonian Institution

In 2021, Panama tripled the size of the Cordillera de Coiba marine protected area, propelling the country ahead of the UN goal to protect 30% of its oceans by 2030. This area, a Blue Park and Hope Spot spanning nearly 68,000 square kilometers, is home to an array of deep-water ecosystems, which attracts predatory species like sharks, billfish, and tuna. Fourteen marine mammals also frequent Cordillera de Coiba, including three threatened with extinction: the blue whale, sei whale, and sperm whale.

Other threatened species are also seen here, like sea turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks. These animals are often mistakenly captured during fishing operations, which makes marine protection so critical. Expanding this MPA was a true act of science diplomacy, with Panamanian government officials coming together to put protections in place for these vital marine ecosystems.

Revillagigedo Archipelago

photo: Octavio Aburto

During a dive at Revillagigedo National Park, you'll come across some of the world's largest manta rays gliding near massive schools of sharks. Stunning coral reefs provide the setting for 366 fish species to call this place home, including 26 found nowhere else on the planet. Revillagigedo’s four islands, Socorro, Clarión, San Benedicto, and Roca Partida represent the peaks of volcanoes emerging up to 4,000 meters from the seafloor. These underwater mountains create an upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, which support a vast array of marine life.

Revillagigedo National Park is North America's largest Marine Protected Area, designated a Hope Spot in 2017 and a Blue Park in 2021. When it was first established, local fishers raised concerns about the negative impact a no-take policy could have on their catch. To their surprise, scientists have noted growing biodiversity ever since.

"Being part of the Blue Park MPA Network is an honor and motivates us to continue working to improve effective management for the conservation and defense of the species and ecosystems of Mexico and our planet," says Eréndida Frias Hernández, the director of Revillagigedo National Park.

Protecting Hope Spots, which ideally motivates governments and local communities to implement the robust conservation practices that result in Blue Park designation, provides an actionable road to recovery for our oceans. It's not too late to shift from the swift and sharp decline of ocean systems in recent decades to an era of steady recovery. There is time—but not a lot. The next ten years may be the most crucial time for the ocean in the next ten thousand years.

Marine Conservation Institute is committed to advocating for 30x30—the protection of 30% of the Earth's land and ocean by 2030. We are thrilled to award Blue Park status to new locations at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

You can help protect these MPAs and others with a donation to the Blue Parks Impact Fund where 100% of your gift will go directly to local conservation efforts within Blue Park protected areas.

Donate to the Blue Parks Impact Fund

The post These Eastern Tropical Pacific Hope Spots Meet the Blue Park Standard, Achieving the Highest Caliber of Marine Conservation appeared first on Marine Conservation Institute.