30x30 Ocean Action Plan 2025

30x30 Ocean Action Plan21 20 MPAs in Areas Beyond National JurisdictionCurrent High Seas MPAs In contrast to national waters, MPA designation in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) has a different set of conditions to consider. These areas— which include the high seas as well as the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,26 hereafter referred to collectively as the “high seas”—fall outside of the control and responsibility of any one nation. UNCLOS provides the foundation for marine conservation but does not include explicit procedures for MPA designation at the international level. As a result, to date, regional organisations have taken the lead in establishing high seas MPAs through regional agreements and existing international bodies, with the support of regional programmes and sectoral bodies.27 However, while the high seas account for 61% of the ocean, only a small fraction is designated as an MPA. Just 1.5% of the high seas (0.9% of the global ocean) fall under MPA status through various regional bodies, and an even smaller portion is classified as fully or highly protected, according to MPAtlas.28,29The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted the first MPA in ABNJ in 2009 around the South Orkney Islands in the Southern Ocean, followed in 2016 by the Ross Sea MPA, the largest yet.30 Established by consensus among CCAMLR members, these MPAs were vital in demonstrating that international collaboration to establish high seas MPAs was possible, and they continue to serve as key tools for conserving high seas marine biodiversity while allowing for certain sustainable activities under strict regulation.31 Multiple additional MPAs for the Southern Ocean have been proposed to CCAMLR in recent years, however, the MPA designation process has slowed primarily due to geopolitical tensions and politics, and to some extent by challenges integrating sustainable use and conservation goals.32 Outside the Southern Ocean, the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention - so named due to the preceding Oslo and Paris Conventions) has facilitated the designation of high seas MPAs in the North-East Atlantic.33 Since 2010, OSPAR has established 11 MPAs in ABNJ, with a very small portion of that considered to be fully or highly protected.34 These areas are designated based on their ecological significance, such as the presence of vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems and migratory species. However, management measures within these MPAs depend on collaboration with relevant authorities. For instance, fisheries regulations fall under regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), such as the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), while shipping-related protections are put in place by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Without direct enforcement power, OSPAR relies on its member states to voluntarily implement any additional MPA conservation recommendations and advocate for protection within their respective jurisdictions. Importantly, several OSPAR MPAs have been criticised for inadequate protections, highlighting uncertainties regarding their potential to deliver positive conservation outcomes.35 Hope on the Horizon: The BBNJ Agreement A major breakthrough in ocean governance came with the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement in June 2023.36 This implementing Agreement under UNCLOS establishes a formal global mechanism to create MPAs in ABNJ. Although it will not enter into force until 120 days after the 60th country deposits its instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession, many countries are already beginning to align future MPA proposals with its provisions, signalling strong early momentum. Countries including Chile and Canada have emerged as early champions, launching the BBNJ First Movers initiative to accelerate the designation of the first generation of high seas MPAs under the agreement. Their leadership, along with support from countries such as Belgium, Costa Rica, France, the Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Palau, and the Philippines, has helped build critical momentum behind ratification and implementation of the Agreement.37 The BBNJ Agreement provides the opportunity to significantly advance high seas progress towards the 30x30 target and beyond if entry into force and implementation are secured soon, and if Parties to the Agreement commit to exploring the Agreement’s provisions to their full potential. This will require consistent and coherent coordination with relevant institutions, frameworks, and bodies (IFBs) and a transparent and accessible Clearing-House Mechanism to facilitate conversations and data-sharing, supported by benefit-sharing, equitably formed treaty bodies, and stable financial mechanisms. The BBNJ Agreement process for the establishment and implementation of MPAs will consist of several stages.38 Proponents submit detailed proposals that include information on the ecological significance, vulnerability, and potential benefits of the area to be protected. These proposals are then evaluated by a Scientific and Technical Body against established criteria such as biodiversity importance, ecosystem services, and cultural or socioeconomic value. Following this scientific review, proposals are considered by the Conference of the Parties (COP), which aims to reach decisions by consensus, or, if necessary, by a qualified majority. Once designated, MPAs must be supported by management plans and monitoring frameworks, with periodic reviews to ensure their effectiveness. Throughout, the BBNJ process emphasises transparency, inclusivity, and respect for the rights and interests of all stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples and developing states, ensuring that conservation efforts are both as equitable and robust as possible. MPA networks consisting of large-scale and small-scale areas will both be important to reaching the 30x30 target’s aims of ensuring spatial coverage and well-connected, ecologically representative areas for marine biodiversity and ecosystem function protection. Photo: ImageSourceCurr / Envato ElementsPhoto: Image-Source / Envato Elements