Blue Marine’s mission is to see at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean under effective protection by 2030 (30×30). Currently only 9.6 per cent of the ocean is under any kind of protection, and only 3.1 per cent is fully protected.
To achieve 30×30, two things are crucial. The first is to secure marine protected areas (MPAs) – specified regions of ocean where fishing and other extraction are restricted – and ensure the MPAs are effectively managed. The second is to develop models of sustainable fishing.
Over the past decade Blue Marine has supported the establishment of MPAs that protect species, habitats, cultural heritage and ecosystems around the world. They also provide climate change resilience, allow stocks to recover from overfishing, and often support sustainable fisheries in tandem with biodiversity protection.
Since 2010, with many partners, we have helped establish MPAs at home and overseas, including 4 million sq km around the UK Overseas Territories.
Our achievements towards the 30 x 30 vision and current programme include:
- Supporting the establishment of new MPAs through collaboration with national, regional and local governments and communities – six new MPAs designated in the Maldives (2021); a fully protected area around Ascension Island (2019); the first MPA in the Caspian Sea (2018)
- Calling for a ban on bottom-towed fishing in all MPAs – securing a ban in four offshore MPAs in UK waters (2021)
- Calling for a network of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in UK waters
- Assessing the actual level of protection in MPAs in the UK and Overseas Territories
- Scaling up our impact by sharing our learning and experience in establishing and collaboratively managing MPAs – BLUEPrint for MPAs
