World Now Has 10 New Marine Preserves
- Editor OGN Daily
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Biodiverse waters off the coast of Portugal, Colombia and São Tomé and Príncipe are to be protected after the three nations announced new marine reserves at the UN World Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
Colombia’s newly announced Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo marine protected area (MPA) in the Caribbean Sea encompasses 3,800 sq. km (1,500 sq. miles) and includes two remote coral reefs that support an abundance of marine life.
Portugal’s new MPA covers the Gorringe Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s home to Europe’s tallest seamounts and brings the country’s total share of protected sea to 27 percent - putting it well ahead of many other European nations. Colloquially known as '30x30, the international agreement - signed at COP15 in 2022 - specifically calls for the effective protection and management of 30 percent of the world's terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.
Late last year, the Azores Islands - a nine-island Portuguese archipelago - also approved the North Atlantic’s largest marine protected area, encompassing nearly 115,830 sq. miles (300,000 sq. km), providing protection for its vast and unique biodiversity - including deep-sea corals and hydrothermal vents.
Eight new MPAs covering 93 sq. km (36 sq. km) were also announced at the UN World Ocean Conference by São Tomé and Príncipe. The conservation charity Flora and Fauna said that it was “a positive first step” for the African nation. The MPAs include both no-catch areas and ‘sustainable use zones’ where traditional fishing methods are permitted.
Another success at this year's conference is that 18 new countries ratified the High Seas Treaty for a total of 49 - just 11 shy of the 60 needed for the agreement to be enforced. The swell of support added momentum to what could end up being a historic sea change in how the open ocean is governed. “The entry into force is within our sight, and I call on all remaining nations to join swiftly,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. Director of the High Seas Alliance Rebecca Hubbard called the ratifications a “powerful victory” for the people who have pushed for high seas protections to take centre stage on the world’s environmental agenda, reported Euronews.
