Around one-fifth of the ocean still needs to be conserved by 2030. Expanding marine protected areas must be matched by efforts to improve their effectiveness, as only 3.5% of the ocean is considered adequately protected. Effective protection depends on local leadership, strong governance, long-term finance, scientific expertise, data and technology. On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last week, the World Economic Forum launched its Friends of Ocean Action Vision for 2030, setting out priorities for the final years of a decade in which the international community made ambitious commitments to ocean conservation. Among the most consequential is 30x30. Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, governments agreed to conserve at least 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. With less than four years remaining, the challenge is no longer simply announcing new protections but ensuring they are operational. Marine protected areas now cover around 9.8% of the ocean, according to the Marine Protection Atlas, a project of the Marine Conservation Institute. Researchers found that at least half of existing marine protected areas remain unimplemented or operationally ineffective (i.e. incompatible with biodiversity conservation) and the Marine Protection Atlas reported that only about 3.5% of the ocean is currently...

Earlier this year, ocean conservation advocates celebrated what seemed like a major milestone: 10 percent of the Earth’s oceans had been officially designated as protected marine protected areas. In theory, this meant that world leaders had successfully implemented varying degrees of fishing restrictions and regulations across a tenth of the oceans’ surface area in an attempt to reduce pressures on ecosystems and help them thrive. It also signaled progress toward a United Nations goal, known as 30×30, to conserve 30 percent of the planet’s land and ocean area by 2030. But new research in the journal PNAS suggests that the 10 percent figure is misleading. It found that only a small fraction of implemented marine protected areas, or MPAs, are actually making a substantial difference for the ecosystems they’re supposed to protect — largely due to low compliance with fishing restrictions. Conservatively, the authors estimated that just 2 percent of the oceans are covered by MPAs where ecosystems are recovering. The research raises questions about the broader 30×30 approach, which focuses on a protected area’s’ square mileage rather than their efficacy. The authors said there’s a need to think beyond area-based conservation metrics and consider what’s really happening to aquatic...

Achieving 30x30 is not simply about increasing the area designated as protected on a map. It is about ensuring that protected areas deliver real and measurable conservation outcomes, for both nature and the people who depend on it. This is why much of IUCN Med’s work focuses on the quality and effectiveness of protection: assessing management effectiveness, strengthening local capacities and supporting processes that ensure that protection on the map translates into effective conservation at sea. © Castenoid A new driver for Scientific cooperation in Europe In September 2025, the European Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centre (TSCC) was officially launched under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). IUCN Med is one of three institutions hosting the Centre in Europe, alongside a broad network of organisations that includes the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, the French National Museum of Natural History and the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity, among others. The TSCC aims to catalyse the exchange of scientific knowledge, data, technical expertise and good practices among European countries. It supports countries in implementing their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and in advancing progress towards the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global...

The Spanish government has launched a consultation process to establish 23 new marine protected areas (MPAs) in Canary Islands waters and the Mediterranean Sea as part of efforts to meet a national commitment to protect 30% of its waters by 2030. The proposal, put forward by Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) in July, aims to protect 22,405 square kilometers (8,651 square miles) of marine waters primarily in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean around the Canary Islands, part of a region known as Macaronesia. It also covers areas of the Mediterranean off the coasts of Valencia, Almería, Granada and the Balearic island of Mallorca. The proposal includes 21 new sites of community importance (SCIs) under the Natura 2000 network. Seventeen of these are in Canary Islands waters covering 2,209 km2 (853 mi2), while four more in the Mediterranean Sea will cover 5,341 km2 (2,062 mi2). In addition, two new special protection areas (SPAs) will cover 14,855 km2 (5,736 mi2) of offshore waters around the Canary Islands. The plan, the ministry writes in the proposal, “will increase the area of marine waters under Spanish sovereignty or jurisdiction that are protected by 2.08 percentage points, bringing the...

As one of the most isolated landmasses on Earth, residents of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, rely on the bounty of the ocean more than most. It’s as good a place as any to institute marine environment protections, and indeed the island’s famous stone heads, or moai, now gaze out upon one of the largest […] The post 270,000 Square Miles Around Easter Island to Become Indigenous-Managed Ocean Reserve appeared first on Good News Network.

SYDNEY, Tuesday 11 August 2026 — New data obtained by Greenpeace Australia Pacific has found millions of kilograms of marine life are being taken from Australian marine parks by commercial fishers annually, as the government begins its review of the country’s Marine Parks Network. The data, released to Greenpeace in response to a Freedom of Information request, relates to 18 of Australia’s 60 Commonwealth marine parks, and shows almost 2.2 million kg of marine life is being fished each year, raising concerns about the true catch numbers across all marine protected areas. Greenpeace is calling for the Labor government to use the once-in-a-decade Marine Parks Network review, announced last fortnight, to ban industrial activities, including bottom trawling, longlining and oil and gas mining, from Australia’s Marine Parks Network, and increase fully-protected ocean sanctuaries within the network. Elle Lawless, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “It’s chilling to think of the true scale of destruction happening inside all of Australia’s marine parks, and how much of our precious ocean wildlife, like dolphins, turtles or seabirds, could be pulled out of protected areas as bycatch. “We’re talking about 6,600 kilograms of wildlife in one day, and that does not include what’s...

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the Coral Triangle Center (CTC), is pleased to announce the establishment of the Coral Triangle Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (CT- EAGL), a major milestone in advancing effective and equitable management of marine protected and conserved areas across one of the world's most biologically diverse marine regions. The newly established regional jurisdiction comprises 17 Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) members representing expertise from across the six Coral Triangle countries, supported by two Technical Advisors who will provide specialized advice to the group when required. Together, these experts will play a central role in implementing the IUCN Green List Standard in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, independently assessing candidate marine protected areas and supporting their journey towards achieving internationally recognised standards of conservation excellence. The CT-EAGL has been established through the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience (SOMACORE) programme, funded by Germany's International Climate Initiative (IKI). Implemented by IUCN, GIZ, the Coral Triangle Center and other partners, SOMACORE aims to strengthen ecosystem resilience, improve governance of marine protected areas, promote equitable conservation and support climate adaptation across the...

Celebrating local actions for global impact 1 August

Satellite images reviewed by The Associated Press reveal that crude oil is leaking from a sanctioned tanker grounded off the coast of Oman, near a marine protected area. The oil sheen has spread to cover approximately 20 square kilometers, affecting shorelines and marine ecosystems. Environmental expert Wim Zwijnenburg of PAX warns that the tanker, carrying over 800,000 barrels of crude oil, faces risks of structural failure during the monsoon season, which could lead to a larger disaster. The tanker, Caroline Bezengi, is sanctioned by the UK, EU, Canada, and Switzerland for its ties to Russia and activities destabilizing Ukraine. Despite orders to remove the vessel by July 23, its status remains unclear. Greenpeace Germany highlights the environmental risks posed by Russia's 'shadow fleet,' emphasizing the potential devastation for Oman's coastline and unique marine life, including endangered Petrels. The incident underscores the intersection of geopolitical sanctions and environmental hazards.

Human activity and climate change are straining Chile's coastal habitats and depleting fish stocks. We are developing innovative mechanisms to promote sustainable seafood, secure livelihoods and conse...

The IUCN team actively participated in the event, representing the IUCN Green List programme throughout the three-day Regional Exchange and during Days 4 and 5, which included the field visit to Tun Mustapha Park and the high-level MPA TWG Meeting. Setting the Scene: Why the IUCN Green List Matters for the Coral Triangle The 12th MPA REX, themed "Road Towards 2030: Resilient & Effective MPAs in the Coral Triangle Region," provided a timely platform to examine how the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS), now over a decade old, can be strengthened and modernised to meet current global conservation commitments, including the 30×30 target under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Md Anjum opened by presenting the IUCN Green List programme on Day 1, introducing participants to its mission, elements, indicators, and key milestones. He highlighted progress under the IUCN SOMACORE programme, which has been supporting Green List candidacy across the CT6 member states, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. A central message was that the IUCN Green List is not intended to replace existing frameworks such as CTMPAS, but to complement and strengthen them, providing globally credentialed recognition for MPAs that demonstrate sound governance,...

Drifting devices used by the global tuna fishing industry are entering marine protected areas worldwide, creating potential risks for wildlife and sensitive ocean habitats, according to a new international study. The study, published on June 17 in Science Advances, analyzed publicly available data on drifting fish aggregating devices floating rafts equipped with GPS technology that help commercial fishing fleets locate tuna. Researchers estimated that these devices have likely drifted through more than half of the world’s marine protected areas by total area. The findings are especially relevant for Hawaiʻi and the broader Pacific, where vast marine protected areas coexist with some of the world’s busiest tuna fishing grounds. Researchers found hotspots for drifting fish aggregating device interactions in the central Pacific, western Indian Ocean and Caribbean. They also documented at least 6,300 strandings of the devices in 174 protected areas across 53 maritime jurisdictions. When these floating structures wash ashore or become trapped on reefs, they can damage coral, contribute to plastic pollution, and entangle marine animals such as sea turtles and sharks. The study identified nearly 500 at-risk species living within protected areas where drifting fish aggregating device strandings have been observed. John Lynham, a professor in the University...

Society chief executive officer and pwo navigator Nainoa Thompson named first international ambassador of Tainui Ātea.

The coastal area between Hoek van Holland and Bergen aan Zee has long been recognised as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), and it’s easy to see why. Research confirms what birdwatchers have known for years. This is an important resting and feeding ground for an impressive range of coastal and seabirds. The area is home to the Great Cormorant, the Little Gull, the Great Crested Grebe, the Sandwich Tern, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Black-headed Gull, the Red-throated Loon, the Mew Gull, the Greater Scaup, the European Herring Gull, and Common Scoter – and for all of them, it meets the criteria for designation as a marine Special Protected Area. Protection of the entire coastal zone The Hollandse Kust slots neatly into an emerging mosaic of protected areas. It connects the SPA Voordelta in the south and the SPA North Sea Coastal Zone in the north. At approximately 100,000 hectares (1,000 km²), an area slightly larger than all of Berlin and fills a long-standing gap. With this addition, the entire Dutch coastal zone will soon be protected under the EU Birds Directive. What happens next Later this year, the Dutch Parliament will publish a draft designation decision defining...

Less than three weeks into 2026, the international ocean community celebrated a key achievement: the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (often called the BBNJ Agreement or the High Seas Treaty) officially came into force. This is the first legally binding, global framework to govern biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions — an area covering approximately 65% of the ocean and 43% of the Earth’s surface. Because of its size and remoteness, management of this area, known as the “high seas,” has been historically disjointed. The new treaty aims to provide the much-needed thread to stitch together a patchwork of current governance systems. Work now begins to build a framework that supports international climate and biodiversity goals. This includes the creation of new decision-making bodies, procedures for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in the high seas, rules for accessing and benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources, and critically, a mechanism for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) on the high seas. We’re at a pivotal moment as the effectiveness of establishing MPAs during the High Seas Treaty negotiations will greatly impact the success of...