Report issues ‘sobering reality check’ for world’s oceans

As global leaders head to the U.N. Biodiversity Conference next week, a new report issued a stark warning: The world
is falling short of its pledge to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. 

Despite ambitious goals set two years ago at the last biodiversity conference, only 8.3 percent of marine areas are currently protected, and just 2.8 percent are effectively managed with strong protections, according to the report commissioned by the Bloomberg Ocean Fund in partnership with a consortium of environmental organizations. 

Since 2022, the total ocean area reported as protected has only increased by 0.5 percent. At current rates, just under 10 percent of the world’s oceans will be protected by 2030 — a far cry from what scientists say is needed to stop the loss of marine biodiversity, stem the climate crisis, and protect communities that rely on oceans for food and livelihoods. 

“Fundamentally, the 30 percent target is about ensuring the long-term survival of our oceans and ourselves — and it’s not happening fast enough or at a big enough scale,” said Laure Katz, who leads Conservation International’s global ocean protection work. “Oceans have reached their max in terms of how much fish can be extracted, how much heat they can absorb, and how much carbon dioxide and pollution they can take. They’re on the brink.” 

A school of tuna swim in the Pacific Ocean. © iStock.com/Nuture

The report offered five recommendations to drive progress toward the “30×30” target. 

1. Expand marine protected areas — fast

Countries must significantly boost marine protections, both within their national waters and in international waters known as the “high seas,” which are largely unexplored and unprotected. Reaching the 30 percent target will be impossible without protecting more of the high seas, Katz said. 

The Blue Nature Alliance, an initiative co-founded by Conservation International to accelerate marine conservation, is working with partners in all five oceans, from the coasts to the high seas. 

In Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, for example, the Blue Nature Alliance is supporting a coalition of partners and governments working toward the creation of four new marine protected areas (MPAs), which, if designated, would be a significant contribution to the 30×30 target — and a sign of “what it’s going to take to beat expectations and move the needle,” Katz said. 

2. Focus on effective protection

It’s not enough to mark areas as protected — they need to be effectively managed and regulated. In Latin America, for example, nearly 27 percent of marine areas are designated as MPAs, but only 2.5 percent are considered effectively protected, according to the report. To bridge this gap, governments must enforce stronger regulations to prevent mining, oil extraction and other harmful activities. 

“The quality of the intervention matters,” Katz said. “It is not just about protection, but also implementation. That first step after designating a protected area is the hardest one. Going from a line on the map to a place with actual implemented management is a big commitment. It means building out governance and making sure MPAs have adequate staffing and financing.” 

3. Support Indigenous Peoples and local communities

Indigenous Peoples and local communities play a vital role in marine conservation and must be central to decision-making. The report calls for governments to recognize Indigenous rights, adding that traditional knowledge and practices should guide the management of protected areas. Furthermore, the report calls for significant increases in financing to support Indigenous-led conservation. 

Promoting Indigenous-led conservation is a hallmark of Conservation International and the Blue Nature Alliance’s approach. In Canada, for example, the alliance supported coastal First Nations in securing US$ 335 million last year to develop sustainable economic initiatives and protections in the Great Bear Sea, off British Columbia’s northern coast. 

“We’re learning from our Indigenous partners,” Katz said. “It’s really about listening to the leadership and vision of coastal communities, voyaging societies and other communities with deep wisdom of the ocean.” 

4. Unlock long-term funding for ocean protection

Currently, global biodiversity finance is only a fraction of what’s needed. Effective ocean conservation requires sustained funding for management and monitoring. The report urges developed nations to fulfill their commitments to contribute US$ 20 billion annually to developing countries by 2025 and US$ 30 billion by 2030. It says funding for scientific research to guide the creation of new MPAs should be prioritized. 

5. Increase reporting and data collection

Accurate data is critical for monitoring progress toward the 30×30 goal. The report notes that many MPAs are currently self-reported with no verification of their effectiveness. Reliable data is essential to ensure that MPAs are well-connected and equitable — and achieve global biodiversity goals. 

© Cristina Mittermeier/sealegacy

Though the report is a “sobering reality check,” Katz said recent successes point the way for putting ocean conservation on track. 

In the South Pacific, the tiny island nation of Niue has committed to protect 100 percent of its ocean area and last year launched a new financial mechanism that enables contributors to sponsor a square kilometer of its waters. Several organizations, including Conservation International and the Blue Nature Alliance, have already committed to sponsor more than 15,000 square kilometers (nearly 6,000 square miles) of ocean. 

Earlier this year, with support from the alliance, the Dominican Republic designated a new marine protected area and expanded an existing sanctuary, becoming the first Caribbean nation to achieve the 30 percent protection milestone. And this month, the Australian government quadrupled the size of its Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, a move that will help protect Antarctic marine life. 

Ahead of next week’s U.N. Biodiversity Conference, the report, which Conservation International was not part of, shows where countries need to come together, Katz said. 

“Despite the leadership in many places, we are collectively not doing enough,” she said. “The pathway forward for the health of the planet is to cooperate. We need cooperation — in the high seas, in the Southern Ocean, in countries that are building effective marine protected areas. Partnerships accelerate action and we need more bold action.” 

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Vanessa Bauza is the senior communications director at Conservation International. Want to read more stories like this? Sign up for email updates here. Donate to Conservation International here.