Protect Spaces - MPAs - Ocean Central

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are designated parts of the ocean where human activity is regulated to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems.

They help protect habitats, support species recovery, and strengthen the health and resilience of marine ecosystems.

While MPA networks have grown rapidly over the past two decades, achieving meaningful protection requires both coverage and quality, ensuring that protected zones are effectively managed and ecologically representative.

Here’s a global snapshot of current MPA coverage and protection levels.

Key Stats

MPA Progress

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Globally, MPAs have increased by 9.06% since 2000.

2030 Goal

Conserve 30% of Marine and Coastal Areas

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has set a target to conserve 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. This chart illustrates the progress being made, highlighting the current status (8%) versus the goal (30%). The gap signals an opportunity to protect additional marine environments.

Source: Convention on Biological Diversity

MPAs Data Report

Temporal Coverage

50+Years
Data Frequency

Sufficient – At least 2 data points available for trend analysis and at least one data point in the last 7 years
Geographic Range

100% of global data available
Goal Assessment

2030 Goal – High Quality (Measurable)

Data Availability

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Marine protected areas (MPAs) are the cornerstone of global ocean conservation.

These designated zones manage, and sometimes fully restrict, human activity to give marine life and habitats the space to recover, thrive, and adapt to changing conditions.

MPAs come in many forms, ranging from marine national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to biosphere reserves and locally managed marine areas. Each type has different goals and rules. Some enforce strict protection (“no-take” zones), while others allow sustainable use of marine resources. Each is designed around local ecosystems and governance needs, contributing to a shared goal — a healthier, more resilient ocean.

Together, these diverse approaches embody humanity’s most deliberate effort to safeguard the ocean, not just by drawing boundaries, but by creating spaces where nature can regenerate and where people and ecosystems can coexist sustainably.

Tracking MPAs helps reveal not just how much of the ocean is protected, but how effectively these areas preserve biodiversity and sustain livelihoods. Well-managed MPAs are proven to rebuild fish stocks, safeguard critical habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves, and provide natural defenses against climate impacts.

Where Marine Protection Stands Today

Understanding current protection levels and how different regions contribute is essential for tracking progress and identifying where further action is needed.

EEZ Protection

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Globally, 22.5% of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) are currently protected by MPAs.

Protection Levels

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Globally, 2.92% of marine areas are considered fully or highly protected by MPAs.

Protection Opportunities

See which ecosystems remain underprotected and where new action could unlock the ocean’s greatest gains. By revealing where biodiversity is still unprotected, we can focus conservation where it matters most.

Strengthening safeguards for coral reefs, mangroves, and deep-sea ecosystems not only supports marine life, but also boosts carbon storage, fisheries recovery, and coastal resilience.

Ecosystems Within MPAs

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Globally, 17.83% of marine ecosystems fall within MPAs or OECMs.

Critical Marine Area Protection

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Globally 11% of the critical marine ecosystems are protected by MPAs.

Discover practical actions communities, businesses, policymakers, and individuals can take to strengthen marine protection.

Taking Action

Expand and Strengthen MPAs

Support initiatives that advocate for the expansion of marine protected areas and work to improve the management of existing MPAs to ensure they achieve conservation goals.
Collaborate on Local MPA Management

Communities can establish partnerships with local organizations to co-manage or directly oversee MPAs, ensuring that conservation practices align with local ecological and economic needs.
Contribute Resources and Innovation

Businesses can drive impact by providing financial contributions, human expertise, or cutting-edge technology to enhance the monitoring, enforcement, and sustainability of MPAs.

Enact and Enforce Effective Policies

Policymakers can lead by creating strong legal frameworks for MPAs, offering communities the tools and resources to manage these areas, and ensuring that protection measures are both enforced and effective.
Advance MPA Science and Monitoring

Researchers can develop monitoring protocols to track the long-term success of MPAs, using data to continuously improve conservation and restoration strategies.

Case Studies 3

Coral Sea
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Established in 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is one of the world’s largest and most iconic MPAs. Through adaptive zoning and strict no-take areas, it protects coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves while supporting sustainable tourism and fisheries. Its science-based management model and strong governance by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) have made it a global benchmark for marine conservation.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park demonstrates how long-term protection, science-driven policy, and inclusive management can sustain both biodiversity and livelihoods at scale. It remains a living laboratory for reef recovery and climate resilience, offering vital lessons for achieving the 30×30 global target.

Key Actors: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), Australian Government, UNESCO
www.gbrmpa.gov.au
Tyrrhenian Sea
AMP Secche di Tor Paterno (“Tor Paterno Shoals”)

Established in 2000, the Secche di Tor Paterno Marine Protected Area (AMP) covers approximately 1,387 hectares (13.87 km²) of submerged rocky bank located about 5 nautical miles off the Roman coastline. Rising from depths of 60 meters to just 18 meters below the surface, it hosts a remarkable diversity of habitats — from gorgonian forests to seagrass meadows — supporting species such as groupers, moray eels, and lobsters.

As the only Italian marine reserve entirely offshore and fully submerged, Secche di Tor Paterno represents a pioneering model of MPA management in complex, urban-proximate waters. Through strict regulation of fishing, navigation, and diving activities, the site balances ecological protection with sustainable human use. Its innovative “Contratto di AMP” governance framework — uniting local authorities, scientists, and civil society — has made it a flagship example of participatory and science-based marine management in the Mediterranean.

Key Actors: RomaNatura (Regional management authority), Ministry of Environment, Municipality of Pomezia, Associazione Triton, local diving and fishing communities
www.ampsecchetorpaterno.it associazionetriton.it
Northwestern Mediterranean Sea
Pelagos Sanctuary

Signed in 1999 ( effective 2002) through a trilateral agreement between France, Italy, and Monaco, the Pelagos Sanctuary is the first transboundary MPA in the Mediterranean, officially recognized under the Barcelona Convention and listed in the World Database on Protected Areas (IUCN Category VI). Covering approximately 87,500 km² of coastal, offshore, and high seas waters, the sanctuary protects a vital feeding and breeding area for whales, dolphins, and other pelagic species.

The sanctuary represents a pioneering model of international marine governance, where nations collaborate to address shared challenges, from ship strikes and underwater noise to pollution and bycatch. Its large-scale, ecosystem-based approach makes it a landmark example of cooperative ocean management, demonstrating how coordinated policy and science can protect biodiversity across political boundaries.

Key Actors: France, Italy, Monaco; Secretariat of the Pelagos Agreement; NGOs such as Tethys Research Institute; local governments; maritime, fisheries, and transport sectors.
pelagos-sanctuary.org

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Protect Spaces - MPAs - Ocean Central

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are designated parts of the ocean where human activity is regulated to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems.

Key Stats

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are the cornerstone of global ocean conservation.

Discover practical actions communities, businesses, policymakers, and individuals can take to strengthen marine protection.

Taking Action

Case Studies 3