Marine Conservation Institute

We’ve launched the updated Blue Park Standard 2025 — a science-based framework defining what truly effective marine protection looks like. See what's new: 🔗 marine-conservation.org/blu...

Our Blue Parks program teamed up with COMPASS Science Communication to help the awarded MPAs build communication capacity on limited budgets. See how it went in the latest On the Tide: marine-conservation.org/on-...

Learn more from @savingoceans.bsky.social and CAP's @taotaotasi.bsky.social: www.americanprogress.org/article/sell...

Trump has acted to remove protections from marine areas stretching across more than 1 million square miles—a combined area four times the size of Texas—threatening iconic seascapes with industrial-scale fishing fleets.

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! 🦈 🌊 With just 245 residents, the remote island community of Tristan da Cunha is championing ocean conservation in the South Atlantic Ocean. Check out the shortfin mako, elephant seal, Shepherd's beaked whale, and sooty albatross protected here.

Moment 8️⃣ of 30: our 30th Anniversary Gala! To our supporters: none of what we do would be possible without you. Advocating for change means nothing without people to carry it forward. From all your friends at Marine Conservation Institute, thank you for the past 30! Here's to 30 more!

We didn’t come to present. We came to listen. Our team met in Mallorca with authorities, scientists, NGOs & businesses protecting the Balearic seas. The credit is theirs. Thank you to all involved, and to Universal Beach Hotels for hosting us in Sant Elm. #MPAs #EUBlueParks

2025-2026 was a year of big wins. But with only 3.5% of the ocean being effectively protected, the work is far from done. Read the full report here marine-conservation.org/fli...

1,239 animal species and 497 plant species are all protected within just 6.5 km² of Mediterranean coast. Pyrénées-Orientales General Council protects Cerbère-Banyuls Marine Nature Reserve through sustainable management, scientific monitoring, and educational activities each year. #WildlifeWednesday

30x30 is within reach, but the biggest gap is at sea. 🌊 Just 10% of the ocean is protected today, and only 3.5% is likely to be effectively protected. The High Seas Treaty opens a new path. Now governments must turn ambition into action. Read the full blog: for-the-ocean.org/30x30-is-...

Thirty years, one night to celebrate. Join us for the 30th Anniversary Gala, a night to thank everyone who has stood with us, and an invitation to those ready to stand with us for the next thirty years.

Meet our newest interns! 👋 We’re thrilled to welcome Ally, Mara, Clara and Eugenia to the Marine Protection Atlas team at Marine Conservation Institute! Join us in giving them a warm welcome! #MarineProtectionAtlas #MeetTheTeam

Make your own high seas map in minutes! Funded by the Minderoo Foundation. @highseasalliance.bsky.social @minderoofoundation.bsky.social How-to Video: canva.link/2qlpk02l7442wyf Do it yourself: marine-conservation.org/hig...

This October, grey mullets arrive at Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area to reproduce, sheltered by healthy seagrass meadows. Here, fishers champion the reserve and help monitor it. When a community cares for the ocean, wildlife flourishes. Size: 22.3 km² #WildlifeWednesday #BluePark

30x30 is still within reach! The Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026 and 30×30 Global Assessments set out what is needed to accelerate effective protection through 2030.

Given the right conditions, corals can recover from coral bleaching. #BluePark Aldabra Atoll Special Reserve, widely considered one of the world's most intact marine ecosystems, is an example of this. But, we need to cut rising emissions to prevent coral bleaching in the first place.

Do you have data or insights for a specific MPA or MPA network you want to share? Our new portal makes it easy. 🔎 The new MPAtlas Assessment Portal allows users to add information to existing assessments, verify information for draft assessments, or complete new MPA Guide assessments.

The BBNJ Agreement just reached 100 ratifications! We celebrate this milestone and look ahead to a strong network of protected MPAs on the high seas. Congrats to Germany, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia & Brunei Darussalam. Now: turn ratification into real, lasting ocean protection.

#WildlifeWednesday at Misool Marine Reserve, a 300,000 acre #BluePark in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. It’s two No-Take Zones are patrolled 24/7 by local rangers. Results: sharks up 190% since 2012, mantas doubled to 1,730. 🦈

For 30 years, we have been fighting to protect the wild ocean. This October, we are bringing together the people who believe the next 30 years matter even more.  Join us on October 15th to help us celebrate 30 years of saving wild ocean places!

Happy #WorldMantaDay! During a dive at Revillagigedo National Park, a #BluePark, you might find yourself surrounded by some of the ocean’s largest manta rays. Mantas face growing threats from human activity, but together, we can help mantas thrive. 🌊 #SaveTheMantas

Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve is a thriving Blue Park and sacred refuge (wahi pana). #WildlifeWednesday 🐬 Naiʻa (dolphins) 🦭 ʻĪlioholoikauaua (monk seal) 🐢 Honu (Green sea turtle) 🐠 Iʻa (reef fish) Restored through Native Hawaiian practices, it proves ocean protection works.

The future of coral reefs depends on both local protection and global emissions cuts. Effective Blue Parks build resilient reefs that can withstand marine heatwaves, but that only buys time without urgent action on emissions.

Shark Fin Bay MPA Network is a Blue Park with big news! Led by communities and the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation: Pabellon Islands MPA is highly protected Communities carefully managing eco-friendly tourism Using infrastructure (like buoys + reef-safe moorings) to keep the area well protected.

Bottom trawling isn’t just an ocean health issue, it’s a global food security issue. "The Impact of Bottom Trawling on Food Security," a 2026 report by the Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition, shows how industrial trawling undermines coastal livelihoods. It’s time to restrict destructive trawling.

The pristine marine ecosystem of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to 360 coral species, nearly 700 fish species & 181 threatened species, highlighting just how important these protected waters are for ocean biodiversity. 🪸🐟 #WildlifeWednesday

Happy National Wildlife Day! 🌊 It's imperative that we protect marine species from destructive practices. Here are some faces protected by Blue Parks: Hawaiian monk seals, turtles, spiny lobsters, & vibrant coral reefs. #BlueParks #MarineConservation

We are so excited to participate in the 8th International Marine Conservation Congress this November in Edinburgh! November 13–16, we'll present and discuss turning science into real conservation impact. More soon! #IMCC8

For #WildlifeWednesday, explore colorful marine invertebrates in Victoria, Australia 🌊 Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park is a Blue Park platinum protected area promoting high biodiversity. Check out the: batwing slug, nudibranch, whelk egg casing, & sea anemone!

This month we're joining Coral Reef Alliance for Coral Bleaching Awareness Month. Given the right conditions, and effective management, corals can recover. Stay tuned later this month for how healthy—protected—reefs look 📸 Valentina Cucchiara, CORAL #coralbleachingawareness #ForCoral

Celebrating 30 years: in 2017 we launched the Blue Park Awards, recognizing highly effective MPAs worldwide. Congrats to those first winners—Papahānaumokuākea, Tubbataha Reefs & Malpelo! From 3 parks then to 40 today. Keep up the great work!

#WildlifeWednesday 🐟 The Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve protects 800 meters of ocean and 1,000+ species, including snapper and camouflaged anemones. Its dense kelp forests and deep rocky reefs showcase New Zealand's unique coastal biodiversity.

We've got news: we’re teaming up with Nomad Life! Blue Parks Advocate Erin Michelson joins Dr. Sarah Hameed for a live chat on the latest in marine conservation. Tomorrow, Aug 26, 8am PST. Plus, Erin matches every Nomad Life subscription, doubling your donation to Marine Conservation Institute.

Kisite-Mpunguti MPA used a 2023 Blue Parks Small Grant to: enhance community participation in MPA management, sustainable fishing practices, and conservation awareness. They trained 40 patrol boat operators, delivered 300+ community education sessions and much more 🌊 Incredible work, KMNPA !

A new platform can help understand areas beyond national jurisdiction and build strong MPA proposals. Learn more about Marine Conservation Institute's High Seas Protection Portal: https://www.minderoo.org/stories/high-seas-protection-portal/ @minderoo.bsky.social @savingoceans.bsky.social

Happy #WildlifeWednesday 🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands MPA protects 850,000+ km² and 1,200+ species—from breeding humpback whales to deep-growing corals and critically endangered whitetip reef sharks. A community of <50 people has sustained this Blue Park Platinum protection for 10 years.

Long term ocean protection is powered by people, science, and systems. At Galápagos Marine Reserve, support for the Blue Parks Conservation Fund is strengthening enforcement and monitoring, 28 years running since 1998. 138,665 km² of protection home to 25 endangered species.

A Blue Park Award isn't permanent — that's what makes it meaningful. Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary off Zanzibar has once again earned Gold Blue Park status after its five-year review. See how its reefs and rangers held strong through the pandemic 👇 marine-conservation.org/on-...

Happy #WildlifeWednesday from the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), Palau! 🇵🇼 Established in 2015, PNMS protects 80% of Palau's national waters in a fully protected no-take zone. It's home to 30 marine mammal species, 60 species of sharks and rays and more.👏

Moment #6 of 30 🌊 OOC11 just made history as the first Our Ocean Conference held in Africa — hosted in Mombasa, Kenya. It's also where we announce our Blue Park Awards each year (except UNOC years).

🌊 Blue Parks Spotlight: Misool Marine Reserve, Raja Ampat. Community rangers, university-led reef monitoring, leopard shark rewilding with ReShark, and 1,331 metric tons of waste recycled since 2018. Community-led conservation in action. #BlueParks #RajaAmpat

Brijuni National Park 🇭🇷 protects one of Croatia's most biologically valuable marine areas, where limestone reefs, underwater caves, and seagrass meadows support a vast biodiversity. Fish abundance is 166% higher inside the park than nearby unprotected waters, with nearly 8× more fish biomass.

Goal met! 🌊 Since 2023, the Blue Parks Conservation Fund has sent donations straight to MPA managers on the frontlines. In 2024: 13 grants, 5+ countries, 35k+ distributed. In Ecuador, new tech cut report-prep time 28%. In Colombia, new gear helped rescue two shipwreck survivors. Thank you!

Ocean with David Attenborough just got 6 Emmy nominations. A good moment to remember: only 3% of the ocean is protected from things like bottom trawling. 8% has "some" protection - most of it doesn't hold up. Chcek out the data yourself via our Marine Protection Atlas. mpatlas.org

30x30 isn't just a numbers game. As Dona Bertarelli reminds us, protecting 30% of the ocean on paper means little if those protections aren't managed and enforced on the water. Real recovery depends on well-designed, well-funded, and well-enforced marine protected areas - not just lines on a map.

🗞️ ISA's 31st session wraps in Kingston this week, closing another round on deep-seabed mining rules - covering contract-to-license conversion, environmental safeguards & equitable access. 🗺️ See what's at stake for yourself: marine-conservation.org/hig... #DeepSeaMining #ISA #HighSeas

Happy #WildlifeWednesday from Jardines de la Reina! This Blue Park is one of the Caribbean's last largely intact reef ecosystems. Across 2,170 km² and 661 cays, it protects 37 coral species, 283 fish species, endangered Nassau grouper, Caribbean reef sharks, sea turtles, and more. 🌊