Nice, France – 11 June 2025 – At the opening of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People Co-Chairs France and Costa Rica launched the Friends of Marine Protected Areas – a new political initiative dedicated to boosting global momentum toward protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
This group of like-minded Ocean Champions, currently comprising Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Senegal, and Seychelles, will work collaboratively to galvanize high-level political commitment, facilitate national-level action, and help drive ocean conservation beyond UNOC. By rallying governments around a shared vision to achieve 12% ocean protection in the near term, the Friends of MPAs initiative is integrated into the political work of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for N&P) and other global frameworks.
“The launch of the Friends of Marine Protected Areas is a pivotal moment,” said Rita El Zaghloul, Director of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. “It represents a renewed political will to act decisively for our ocean and sets the stage for accelerated action towards 30×30. As we only have four and a half years to reach 2030, I invite all governments to deliver increased protection for our ocean.”
The launch comes amid a wave of historic marine conservation announcements made by HAC for Nature and People members. These announcements mark significant progress toward achieving the 30×30 target of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Highlights include:
- Australia: Announced they achieve 30% high protected within their EEZ by 2030.
- The Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Launched “Actioning Blue: A Caribbean 30×30 Vision and Roadmap”, a regional strategy for equitable and resilient ocean protection.
- Chile: Committed to the future designation of the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges High Seas MPA and to expanding protections around the Desventuradas and Juan Fernandez Islands.
- Colombia: Colombia announced the Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo MPA, which encompasses 3,800 square kilometers in the Caribbean Sea, an area remarkable for its diverse marine life.
- Croatia: Announced protection of 4% of its EEZ – 170,447 km².
- French Polynesia: Announced the designation of over 1 million km² of new marine protected areas, including 900,000 km² of fully protected areas and new artisanal fishing zones in French Polynesia.
- France also aims to secure additional fully protected zones in the Austral and Marquesas Islands, potentially increasing its total protected marine area to 5 million km².
- Germany: Committed €20 million for MPA support in the Global South under the BBNJ Agreement and launched a €400 million marine conservation fund.
- Greece: Announced they are starting the legal process to create two new national marine parks, one in the Ionian Sea and another in the Southern Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, as a first phase, with more to come.
- Marshall Islands: Reaffirmed the protection of Bikar and Bokak National Sanctuaries, totaling 479,000 km².
- Palau: Gave emphasis to the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity Plan, a unified effort by 22 Pacific nations to achieve sustainable ocean management and conservation.
- Solomon Islands: Committed to the Temotu MPA, a 274,000 km² no-take zone.
- Finally, a further 12 HAC for N&P Members ratified the High Seas Treaty, taking the total to 49 – a significant step closer to the necessary 60 ratifications needed. These included Albania, Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Mauritania, Vanuatu.
With only five years remaining to meet the 30×30 target, the Friends of MPAs group will serve as a political catalyst, driving further high-level commitments like those we have seen at UNOC so far, supporting tracking mechanisms like a global pledge tracker, and maintaining post-UNOC momentum through coordination under the HAC for Nature and People.
–ENDS–
About the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People:
The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for N&P) is an intergovernmental group comprising 120 countries, united by a shared ambition to implement the global goal of effectively conserving and managing at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. Find out more at https://hacfornatureandpeople.org/
About the Friends of Marine Protected Areas Group:
The Group of Friends of Marine Protected Areas is a political initiative proposed by France and Costa Rica within the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC for N&P). Its goal is to support global efforts to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, complementing existing conservation initiatives. The group seeks to build political momentum, encourage high-level commitments, and foster collaboration among nations. It will not conduct technical work but will focus on advocacy and coordination, aiming for impactful announcements at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference and beyond, including a commitment tracker to monitor progress in marine protection.
Media Contact:
Valentina Oben – Communications Officer
valentina.oben@hacfornatureandpeople.org