30x30 Ocean Action Plan 2025

30x30 Ocean Action Plan17 16Protection within National Waters As a result of global commitments, States are expected to take the lead in establishing MPAs and other conservation measures within their national waters, which primarily includes their territorial seas and EEZs, as well as on their continental shelves.12 This leadership is essential to realising the 30x30 target, as EEZs alone make up roughly 39% of the surface area of the ocean.13 Beyond the spatial component, countries’ EEZs often contain unique and ecologically significant ecosystems that require protection, especially where human activities are concentrated, as coastal areas serve as vital hubs for the provision of essential ecosystem services and underpin the livelihoods, well-being, and economies of local, regional, and national communities. Thus far, the potential to establish MPAs and to identify OECMs to achieve the 30x30 target remains largely unrealised. Only 13 countries have protected 30% or more of their EEZs to date,14 and only a subset of that coverage would be considered fully or highly protected.15 It is critical and urgent to rapidly increase protection at the national level in pursuit of international targets and generate the level of protection needed to halt biodiversity loss and safeguard critical ecosystem functions. While it is not a requirement for each country to designate 30% of their national waters as MPAs or to identify OECMs under Target 3—as the target is set for 30% of the global ocean rather than individual countries—doing so can deliver significant domestic conservation and social and economic benefit, reflect positively on national ambition, and contribute to the collective global effort to achieve 30x30. Additionally, transboundary MPAs spanning the EEZs of two or more countries offer a vital mechanism to conserve habitats, ecological processes, and species that transcend national boundaries, by promoting cross-border ecological connectivity, harmonised management, and joint stewardship of shared marine resources. The percentage of protection within a country’s national waters should be determined according to its local and regional contexts, accounting for ecological, economic, and social factors. By acting decisively now, countries can close the ocean protection gap and deliver lasting benefits for nature, climate, and people. The opportunity for action within national waters is twofold. Countries with extensive coastlines and large EEZs can play a pivotal role by establishing large-scale MPAs that conserve relatively intact ecosystems, recover degraded habitats and fish stocks, safeguard migratory species, and enhance climate resilience by protecting ecological processes across broad spatial scales. However, large-scale MPAs alone may not be sufficient to ensure ecological connectivity, particularly for mobile species or complex ecosystems. Well-connected networks of MPAs—both offshore and coastal—are equally critical to delivering conservation outcomes, especially when designed to reflect ecological linkages and species movements. In coastal zones, smaller and often community-led MPAs are vital for protecting habitats under intense human pressure, supporting sustainable local fisheries, preserving cultural values, and strengthening social buy-in. Together, these approaches can help form a coherent and connected system that integrates biodiversity goals with the needs, rights, and knowledge of local communities. By embedding both large-scale and network-based protection strategies within biodiversity-centred marine spatial planning, countries can advance the ambition of the 30x30 target while promoting equity, resilience, and long-term sustainability.16 Key national policy tools like the GBF’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and potential supporting processes like the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy’s Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs), combined with the GBF Target 1 on biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning, can help translate international commitments into actionable strategies and facilitate integrated ocean management across sectors. NBSAPs, mandated under the CBD as the main vehicle to implement national commitments, require countries to outline specific actions for biodiversity conservation across the terrestrial and marine environments. As of September 2025, 55 Parties have submitted NBSAPs to the CBD, and 140 Parties have submitted national targets that align with the GBF.17 SOPs, while not mandated under a global policy instrument like the GBF, can help countries to develop a roadmap for sustainable ocean governance, guiding policies on marine spatial planning, fisheries management, and blue economy initiatives that can support the marine and coastal aspects of NBSAPs. By aligning national policies with global targets such as 30x30, these frameworks enhance policy coherence while fostering collaboration among government agencies, scientific institutions, and stakeholders. Additionally, they promote an integrated approach to conservation, ensuring better coordination between land and ocean management, and mobilising financial and technical resources to support long-term biodiversity outcomes across countries and regions. This is particularly true for small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) which may require stable coordinated efforts to effectively organise capacity and resources. 18,19Photo: Joebelanger / Envato Elements