30x30 Ocean Action Plan 2025

30x30 Ocean Action Plan35 34CHALLENGES ON THE PATH TO 30X30 The global pledge to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 represents a powerful ambition—but translating that ambition into effective protection remains a major challenge. Progress is held back by a set of deeply interconnected barriers, ranging from entrenched economic systems to governance gaps, underfunding, and weak accountability. At the root of the problem are structural drivers: global production and market systems that continue to prioritise extraction, minimise safeguards, and incentivise short-term profits. These systems shape marine policy and finance in ways that often undermine conservation, while subsidies and trade policies skew priorities away from long-term sustainability.As a result, protections on paper frequently fail to deliver in practice. Many marine protected areas (MPAs) still permit destructive activities such as industrial fishing or oil and gas extraction, and in some cases, blanket restrictions are applied without assessing the specific biodiversity values or threats of a given site. This erodes both ecological effectiveness and social legitimacy, particularly where local knowledge and customary use rights are ignored. This highlights another persistent challenge in which Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), and small-scale fishers are frequently excluded from MPA planning and management, despite being key knowledge holders and custodians of marine ecosystems. This undermines trust and weakens compliance, while also missing valuable opportunities for co-management and innovation. Many MPAs are self-reported without verification of protection levels or enforcement, making it difficult to distinguish between real progress and symbolic declarations. If 30x30 is to succeed, these systemic barriers must be addressed collectively— with urgency, transparency, and a commitment to equitable implementation. This, however, will rely on rectifying the persistent problem of sustainable finance. At present, an estimated $1.2 billion is spent annually on ocean protection and conservation — just a fraction of the $15.8 billion per year needed to meet the 30x30 global target. Moreover, the funding that is available is often short-term, project-based, or difficult to access.67 Many countries with rich marine biodiversity lack the stable, long-term funding needed to plan, manage, and enforce effective protections. Small island developing states, which govern vast marine areas, often operate with minimal resources. Without sustained financial support—especially for monitoring, enforcement, and locally led initiatives— protections risk being poorly designed or impossible to maintain. Governance gaps further compound these issues. MPA implementation is often slowed by unclear mandates, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and limited political will. Delays between political announcements and actual protection are common, and many MPAs under consideration remain stuck in planning stages. Overcoming these challenges will not be easy— but the solutions are within reach. Confronting the root causes of ineffective ocean protection, closing implementation gaps, and leveraging new momentum—through opportunities like the UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)—will require coordinated, multi-level action. The Action Plan that follows is designed to help navigate these barriers by providing a practical guide for governments and stakeholders to turn commitment into credible and lasting protection. It identifies the enabling conditions, partnerships, and targeted interventions needed to deliver meaningful progress toward the 30x30 target.Photo: Getty Images / iStockphoto