World Reaches Milestone: 10% of Ocean Now Officially Protected

On April 1, 2026, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced a historic milestone: 10.01% of the global ocean is now designated within marine protected and conserved areas. Over the past two years alone, approximately 5 million square kilometers of ocean — an area larger than the entire European Union — was newly classified as protected.

The achievement represents the fulfillment of the original Aichi Biodiversity Target of 10% ocean protection by 2020, reached six years later than planned. While the delay underscores the complexity of international ocean governance, the acceleration in recent years demonstrates growing political will to protect marine ecosystems.

“01% of the global ocean is now designated within marine protected and conserved areas.”

The progress has been driven by a combination of national designations and new international agreements. Several countries established large marine protected areas around their coastal and island territories, while the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023, provided a framework for protecting waters beyond national jurisdiction for the first time.

However, significant challenges remain. High seas coverage stands at only 1.66%, and scientists note that the quality and enforcement of existing protections vary widely. Not all marine protected areas provide the same level of safeguards, and many allow activities like fishing that can compromise conservation goals.

The next target — protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — represents a far more ambitious goal. Marine conservation experts emphasize that reaching 30x30 will require unprecedented international cooperation and a focus not just on designating new areas but ensuring effective management of existing ones.