The Sea Continues to Astonish With Its Secrets, Highlighting the Imperative to Protect It

The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held earlier this month has marked a significant milestone in the global effort to protect the world's oceans. Recent developments in marine protected areas (MPAs), financial commitments, and the High Seas Treaty have been at the forefront of these significant strides.

Currently, only about 8% of the ocean is designated as MPAs, with a mere 2.8% considered effectively protected. Recognising the urgent need to increase this coverage to meet the 30×30 targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, efforts are being made to accelerate MPA coverage, with a goal to increase it beyond 10% in the coming years. This includes establishing MPAs in international waters, supported by the High Seas Treaty.

One of the most promising aspects of these commitments is the substantial financial investment pledged towards ocean conservation. €8.7 billion in investments were pledged by philanthropists, private investors, and public banks over the next five years. These funds aim to support the expansion of MPAs and other conservation efforts.

The High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, gained significant momentum at UNOC3, with 19 more countries ratifying it, bringing the total to 50. This treaty allows nations to establish MPAs in international waters, covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean, which have been largely ungoverned.

The Galapagos Islands, a premier example of successful marine conservation, serve as a model for MPA management and conservation success. The Galapagos Marine Reserve, established in 1998, is one of the largest MPAs in the world and demonstrates the effectiveness of protected areas in preserving unique biodiversity. The reserve covers over 133,000 square kilometers and showcases how strong conservation efforts can support marine life and ecosystems.

While the Galapagos Islands are not explicitly mentioned in recent UNOC3 outcomes, they support biodiversity and ecosystem health through robust protection and management practices. The commitments and agreements made at UNOC3 aim to replicate such successes globally. For instance, France pledged to protect 900,000 square kilometers of sea, and Ecuador recently added more than 23,000 square miles to the protected waters around the Galapagos Islands.

The ocean is the centre of the world economy, providing food, labor, transportation, tourism, and more. Protecting ocean areas increases catch for valuable fish species like bigeye and yellowfin tuna, contributing to food security and income for nearby coastal communities. The study of 59 MPAs established by California in 1999 showed more and larger fish across the entire network, particularly in species sought by fisheries.

In addition to governmental efforts, philanthropies are also playing a crucial role in ocean exploration and protection. The Schmidt Ocean Institute and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, for example, are contributing to a better understanding of the ocean through science and data. In 2023, the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor discovered two large, previously unknown pristine coral reefs and a hydrothermal vent field around the Galapagos Islands.

The U.N. Decade of Ocean Science launched in 2021, aiming for 10-year action in ocean research, further reinforcing the global commitment to ocean conservation. As we look towards the future, it is clear that the world is taking decisive steps towards preserving our oceans for future generations.

[1] Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) has highlighted the importance of environmental-science, particularly in the field of marine protected areas (MPAs), to protect the world's oceans.
Motivated by the urgent need for increased coverage, efforts are being made to expand MPA coverage as a part of the 30×30 targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Data-and-cloud-computing and technology are playing essential roles in accelerating MPA coverage, with the goal to increase it beyond 10% in the coming years.
The High Seas Treaty, an agreement in technology and general-news, has gained momentum at UNOC3, making it possible for nations to establish MPAs in international waters, covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean.
In addition to governmental initiatives, philanthropies like the Schmidt Ocean Institute and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy are contributing to the advancement of science, data collection, and ocean exploration.
Successful case studies, such as the Galapagos Islands Marine Reserve, demonstrate the effectiveness of protected areas in preserving unique biodiversity, similar to health-and-wellness and lifestyle approaches.
The study of MPAs and ocean conservation are vital components in education-and-self-development, providing knowledge on climate-change and environmental-science to future generations.
Social-media platforms can also play a role in creating awareness about ocean conservation and its benefits, including travel, cars, books, sports, sports-betting, and the broader economy. By fostering discussion and action, social media can encourage people to take action and support the global effort towards ocean preservation.

The Sea Continues to Astonish With Its Secrets, Highlighting the Imperative to Protect It