30x30 Ocean Action Plan 2025

30x30 Ocean Action Plan29 28Canada’s Portfolio of Incoming MPAs: Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans | New and Expanding | 340,845 km2 Canada’s portfolio of new and expanding marine protected areas (MPAs)—collectively spanning 340,845 km² across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans—demonstrates how inclusive, climate-smart marine protection can drive national progress toward the 30x30 target while delivering global impact. Guided by a clear commitment to protect 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030 and a Federal MPA Strategy, Canada is working in close partnership with Indigenous Peoples, regional governments, and local communities to co-develop ecologically representative and well-connected MPA networks.50,51 Key initiatives, such as the Mushkegowuk Council-led proposals in James and Hudson Bays and the Great Bear Sea network in British Columbia, exemplify co-governance models that blend scientific research with Indigenous knowledge and stewardship.52,53,54 These MPAs are designed to protect vital ecosystems, enable species migration, enhance blue carbon storage, and build resilience to climate impacts like ocean warming and acidification. Importantly, Canada’s approach reflects the values of procedural justice and equitable conservation, offering a replicable model for other countries on how a network of smaller community- based and locally managed MPAs is just as essential as larger-scale MPAs, particularly when progress is tracked and reported in an accessible manner at the national level. If realised, this suite of MPAs would significantly boost global ocean protection coverage and highlight the power of inclusive, knowledge-driven conservation in achieving the ambitions of 30x30. Case Study 2. Expanding on Existing MPAs: Building on Established Foundations Expanding existing MPAs is another critical strategy for accelerating progress toward the 30x30 target. Many current MPAs have been designated with limited boundaries due to political, logistical, or resource constraints, and may not fully encompass the ecological processes, habitats, or species they aim to protect . Additionally, as scientific and traditional knowledge bases are integrated and bolstered, new understanding of ecosystem processes and anthropogenic impacts can reveal that additional protection is necessary. By enlarging these areas, conservation efforts can better account for ecosystem connectivity, species’ migratory routes, and climate-driven shifts in marine biodiversity. Expansion also offers an opportunity to strengthen the level of protection within MPAs through expanding measures and around MPAs through buffer zones, reduce edge effects, and improve the overall resilience of marine ecosystems. Moreover, building on established governance structures and stakeholder relationships can allow for more efficient scaling of conservation outcomes when done equitably and transparently, fostering continuity and long-term impact. In this way, MPA expansion is both a pragmatic and powerful means of closing the ocean protection gap while enhancing ecological effectiveness and social legitimacy. The assessment of planned protection within this report, which includes areas where the expansion itself is approximately 100,000 km2 or higher, indicates that these potential large-scale expansions would increase ocean protection by 1.6%.55 Photo: Igor Tichonow / Envato Elements