Nearly 200 nations pledged in 2022 to protect 30% of Earth by 2030. By 2025, 9.6% of the ocean is covered by marine protected areas, up from 8.4% in 2024.
But only 3.2% are highly or fully protected—raising concerns about “paper parks” that still allow destructive activities.
Mongabay chronicled some of the progress made toward protecting the oceans in 2025 in this list compiled by Shanna Hanbury.
#news #oceans #marinelife #marineprotectedareas #conservation