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Protecting the High Seas: Ensuring Strong, Effective MPAs Under the BBNJ Agreement
Article Protecting the High Seas: Ensuring Strong, Effective MPAs Under the BBNJ Agreement By Elle Bent | December 17, 2025 Exactly one month from today, on January 17, 2026, the UN agreement on the conservation of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, or BBNJ Agreement (also referred to as the High Seas Treaty), will enter into force…
Read MoreMarine Conservation Institute Appoints José Escaño Roepstorff as Global Development Director to Scale Ocean Protection for 2030 Horizon
Article photo: Adam Moore By Marine Conservation Institute | December 10, 2025 Marine Conservation Institute is thrilled to welcome José Escaño Roepstorff as our new Global Development Director. A Balearic-born ocean strategist and former marine biologist, José brings a unique blend of scientific grounding and entrepreneurial leadership, shaped by years of working at the intersection…
Read MoreMarine Conservation Institute Introduces Updated Blue Park Standard, Strengthening Global Expectations for Effective Marine Protection
News Release Marine Conservation Institute Introduces Updated Blue Park Standard, Strengthening Global Expectations for Effective Marine Protection By Marine Conservation Institute | November 26, 2025 Marine Conservation Institute announces the updated Blue Park Standard for Effective Ocean Conservation, a comprehensive, science-backed guide designed to help marine protected areas (MPAs) achieve real conservation success. The Blue Park…
Read MoreMarine Conservation Institute Applauds the High Seas Treaty for Winning the 2025 Earthshot Prize for Ocean Protection
News Release Marine Conservation Institute Applauds the High Seas Treaty for Winning the 2025 Earthshot Prize for Ocean Protection By Marine Conservation Institute | November 6, 2025 Marine Conservation Institute congratulates the High Seas Alliance (HSA) on accepting the 2025 Earthshot Prize in the “Revive Our Oceans” category on behalf of the High Seas Treaty (also…
Read MoreMarine Protection Atlas Supports Data-Driven Conservation Planning Through Integration into the Global Fishing Watch Marine Manager
Last week, ocean advocates from around the globe came together at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, to accelerate action towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. So, what was accomplished for ocean conservation? Here’s our recap of some of the major announcements and commitments from the week and their significance for the ocean conservation movement.
Read MoreMarine Conservation Institute Commends IUCN’s Commitment to Protecting the Ocean’s Twilight Zone
News Release Marine Conservation Institute Commends IUCN’s Commitment to Protecting the Ocean’s Twilight Zone By Marine Conservation Institute | October 14, 2025 Today, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) voted to pass Motion 035, “Protection of mesopelagic ecosystem integrity,” at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. This landmark decision calls for applying a…
Read MoreEnduring refuges for ocean wildlife: Blue Parks’ Five-Year Review
Article Enduring refuges for ocean wildlife: Blue Parks’ Five-Year Review Photo Credit: Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona By Marine Conservation Institute | September 25, 2025 Imagine an effective marine protected area (MPA): an ocean sanctuary alive with biodiversity, supporting thriving ecosystems, and recognized with a prestigious Blue Park Award. But what happens after this milestone of conservation…
Read MoreTHE HIGH SEAS TREATY IS RATIFIED! A Historic Milestone for Ocean Conservation
Article THE HIGH SEAS TREATY IS RATIFIED! A Historic Milestone for Ocean Conservation By Marine Conservation Institute | September 19, 2025 Today, the global conservation community achieved a historic win for ocean conservation. At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, the final countries—including St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and…
Read MoreProtected on Paper: The Reality of Ireland’s MPAs
Article Protected on Paper: The Reality of Ireland’s MPAs By Marine Conservation Institute | September 3, 2025 The ‘Real Map of Ireland’ is a term coined to describe the vastness of Irish territory when its seas are taken into account (1). Ten times the size of its land area, Ireland’s seas make it one of the…
Read MorePromises or Protections? What UNOC3’s Commitments Mean for Ocean Conservation
Last week, ocean advocates from around the globe came together at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, to accelerate action towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 and mobilize all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. So, what was accomplished for ocean conservation? Here’s our recap of some of the major announcements and commitments from the week and their significance for the ocean conservation movement.
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