30x30 Ocean Action Plan 2025

30x30 Ocean Action Plan23 22 Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures Marine OECMs provide an important complement to MPAs, offering alternative ways to achieve long- term biodiversity outcomes. Recognised under Target 3 of the GBF, OECMs can include areas such as community-managed fisheries, sacred coastal sites, or zones managed for ecosystem services or protected for military purposes, where conservation is achieved even if it is not the primary aim. To count toward 30x30, OECMs must demonstrably conserve biodiversity and manage or mitigate threats effectively. While the identification of OECMs is assessed case-by-case and remains context-dependent, OECMs can enhance ecological representativity and connectivity within marine protection networks—and both MPAs and OECMs can complement one another in achieving effective global ocean protection.39 Their identification can be supported by existing tools with respect to scientific evidence regarding valuable biodiversity attributes, such as, but not limited to, Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs), Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) and associated protection measures adopted by the IMO, and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) conservation measures such as Beyond MPAs, the BBNJ Agreement fosters greater collaboration across international frameworks and institutions. It establishes vital provisions for capacity- building and the transfer of marine technology, making it more feasible for both developed and developing nations to actively participate in and benefit from ABNJ conservation. The Agreement also addresses benefit- sharing and introduces requirements for environmental impact assessments, laying the foundation for a more just and scientifically informed approach to managing ABNJ. Moving forward, the development of the first generation of MPAs under the BBNJ framework will be a critical step in achieving the 30x30 global target. It will also provide the opportunity to set a lasting precedent for high seas conservation that prioritises ecological connectivity, ecosystem representativeness, and transparent, participatory decision-making. fisheries closures. When well-implemented, OECMs increase the inclusivity and flexibility of marine conservation in selected areas, playing an important role in achieving 30x30 (See more in OECMs 101). An illustrative example of this scientific and governance integration is the recognition of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) closures as an OECM. In 2023, several NEAFC bottom fishing closures—originally established to protect VMEs in the high seas—were officially acknowledged as OECMs under CBD criteria.40 This designation marked a significant milestone because for the first time, an RFMO’s spatial measures were validated within this global biodiversity conservation framework. These closures, developed using robust scientific evidence and implemented through binding multilateral agreements, underscore how sectoral measures can yield genuine biodiversity outcomes when effectively managed and enforced. The NEAFC case also demonstrates the potential to bridge sectoral governance and biodiversity objectives in the high seas, providing a replicable model for scaling up marine protection globally through collaborative and science-based approaches. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Photo: AlexVog / Envato Elements