Opinion piece: From paper parks to Blue Parks: raising the bar for effective marine conservation

Lance Morgan, president, Marine Conservation Institute

Dr. Lance Morgan is a marine biologist and president of the Marine Conservation Institute. From a childhood spent on the beaches of California, he has gone on to explore the ocean as a SCUBA diver, submersible pilot and aquanaut, taking part in missions at the Aquarius underwater habitat in the Florida Keys. In nearly 30 years of marine conservation work he has focused on achieving biodiversity outcomes resulting from marine protected areas and examining the science that aligns with these positive outcomes.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, agreed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, aims to halt species loss and restore nature. Its ambitious “30x30” target calls for conserving 30% of marine areas by 2030. Success, however, lies not solely in the area of ocean designated as protected, but in actual conservation performance.

Clear, science-based standards for marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical for turning conservation targets into real ecological gains. Without clear benchmarks, countries could meet the 30% goal with poorly managed "paper parks" that fail to protect biodiversity. Ineffective MPAs also deprive communities of promised benefits, such as larger fish stocks and healthier habitats, which can create a "spillover" effect and increase resilience in surrounding waters and safeguard future conservation investments.

The Blue Park Standard, developed by Marine Conservation Institute in consultation with marine scientists, is one example of a set of science-based criteria for evaluating MPA effectiveness. It fills a critical gap by providing a clear standard for achieving conservation. The Blue Park Standard requires strong safeguards against fishing and does not allow for damaging human activities such as dredging, mining and oil and gas extraction—all incompatible with conservation. It also excludes less-effective "partially protected” areas that allow unsustainable fishing.

By publicly celebrating and awarding MPAs that meet its standard, the Blue Parks initiative pushes governments and managers to fund and strengthen their conservation efforts. It provides a clear blueprint for effective marine conservation, encouraging others to follow suit. The standard also promotes networks of interconnected reserves that protect a representative sample of habitats and ecosystems—an essential element for building a resilient global ocean system able to withstand climate change.

Recognising that community engagement is vital for lasting success, the Blue Park Standard establishes equitable governance criteria for MPAs, elevating the importance of Indigenous and local community involvement. This prevents the "fortress conservation" model that often harms local communities and compromises conservation goals. The standard also requires adaptive management plans, developed in meaningful consultation with these communities, that set clear conservation targets, track threats, measure outcomes and adjust strategies based on new data. This promotes accountability and prevents neglect once a site is designated.

By focusing on quality, the Blue Park Standard also provides a robust framework for addressing climate change. It strengthens resilience by encouraging MPA site selection based on ecological value, including "refugia" where naturally buffered areas provide relief for vulnerable species from the pressures of climate change such as ocean acidification, de-oxygenation and rising temperatures. By strategically incentivising protection for a diverse range of interconnected ecosystems, the initiative also helps marine life adapt to population range shifts in response to warming waters.

A well-designed network of Blue Parks reduces local stressors, further building the resilience of species and ecosystems. Curbing destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling allows ecosystems to regenerate, populations to rebound, and the seafloor's carbon-storing capacity to improve. Strong protection under the Blue Park Standard enables ecosystems like coral reefs, kelp forests and seagrass beds to recover and thrive.

A major strength of the Blue Parks network is its protection and restoration of "blue carbon" ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass. These habitats sequester carbon and help mitigate climate change by preventing its release into the atmosphere.

Today, 34 MPAs around the globe meet the Blue Park Standard, with another dozen working towards it in partnership with Marine Conservation Institute. This is a stark contrast to the 18,000 MPAs designated worldwide. With around only 1% of the ocean protected to the Blue Park Standard, the gap is clear. Growing efforts to establish protected area standards, such as the IUCN Green List, show the momentum towards improving quality. Scaling up the area protected to meet the Blue Park Standard is critical to delivering on the Global Biodiversity Framework’s ambition of stopping and reversing biodiversity loss. 

By embracing a science-based standard to create a global network of high-quality MPAs, the international community can ensure that conservation targets deliver strong outcomes. Such networks are more resilient than isolated reserves. They enhance biodiversity protection and ensure the long-term survival of marine life by allowing species to find new habitats as environmental conditions change. We look forward to working with partners around the world to bring greater focus to achieving positive biodiversity outcomes and greater resilience to our ocean and the communities that rely on it.