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Celebrating Our First Global Ocean Refuges

Inaugural Platinum-Level Refuges Awarded!

Congratulations to our first Global Ocean Refuge Platinum award-winners: 
Tubbatha Reefs Natural Park, Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary,
and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Each is an
exemplary MPA well-deserving of our highest honor!

Learn More about the Refuges

 

View our 2016 Annual Report

 

On the Tide

Blog October 17, 2017
Our Ocean 2017

Since the first Our Ocean in 2014, these annual conferences have brought together the world ... » read more

Blog October 13, 2017
Two Bills Continue Republican Attack on U.S. Marine Monuments

Congressional Republicans continued their attack on our ocean this week as the House Natural Resources ... » read more

Blog October 11, 2017
GLORES Partner Spotlight: Dr. David Hyrenbach

This week, we are excited to shine the Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) Partner Spotlight ... » read more

Blog October 4, 2017
GLORES Partner Spotlight: Jon Day

This week, we are excited to shine the Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) Partner Spotlight ... » read more

Blog September 22, 2017
GLORES Partner Spotlight: Dr. Douglas McCauley

This week, we are excited to shine the Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) Partner Spotlight ... » read more

More emphasis is needed on better marine protected area design, durable management and compliance to ensure that marine protected areas achieve their desired conservation value. It is a complex undertaking, but one that needs to happen.
Dr. Graham J. Edgar
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Marine-protected areas are clearly a positive trend, a reflection of the growing awareness of governments across the globe that the oceans and their bounty are not limitless or indestructible.
The New York Times
Editorial Board (February 15, 2014)
Well-enforced no-take marine reserves universally increase diversity, size, abundance, and biomass of fish inside their boundaries, which makes them very attractive to tourism. The Global Ocean Refuge System will help the world create more of these no-take marine reserves.
Dr. Enric Sala
Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society
Governments and scientists need to work together to better design, maintain, improve and protect ‘protected areas.’
The New York Times
Editorial Board (February 15, 2014)
The Global Ocean Refuge System is critical to saving the biodiversity of our oceans. It makes so much sense, we all should have thought of it a long time ago.
Dr. Sylvia Earle
Renowned Ocean Conservationist
GLORES is the most exciting marine conservation initiative I’ve seen in a while! I think we urgently need something that can be an alternative to a simple rating of conservation success based on the number of square kilometers their MPAs cover.
Dr. Rodolphe Devillers
Memorial University of Newfoundland
The creation of a marine-protected area is only the start of an effective conservation effort, not the end.
The New York Times
Editorial Board (February 15, 2014)

Our Conservation Priorities for 2017

Saving wild ocean places, for us and future generations

Safeguarding global marine biodiversity with GLORES

The Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES) will catalyze protection of 30% of every marine ecosystem by 2030 through incentivizing countries to strongly protect the ocean by awarding protected areas "Global Ocean Refuge" status using scientific criteria.

Learn more

Photo: Clinton Bauder

Tracking conservation progress at MPAtlas.org

MPAtlas.org is the world's most comprehensive and continuously updated marine protected areas database. Check out the cutting-edge analyses in the SeaStates report series, rankings of how well global coastal waters are protected.

Visit MPAtlas

Protecting our Marine National Monuments and Sanctuaries

We synthesize important scientific and policy information to encourage decision makers to protect our oceans for us and future generations. We are closely following how the Trump Administration impacts marine conservation and are dedicated to defending our marine national monuments and sanctuaries from any threats.

Learn more

Mapping vulnerable marine ecosystems

Our scientists are identifying important deep sea ecosystems and creating maps to aid our colleagues in the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and High Seas Alliance in advocating protection for the high seas.

Learn more

Photo: NOAA

Protecting California's deep sea

Marine Conservation Institute is working to secure lasting protection for the exceptional array of seamounts, ridges and banks off California's coastline.

Learn more

Photo: MBARI

Adapting to a changing world

Marine Conservation Institute is working to improve information about the risk of climate change and ocean acidification to marine ecosystems and local communities, and develop conservation strategies to improve ecosystem resilience.

Learn more

Photo: Paul Nicklen

Promoting sustainable tourism

We are committed to helping people explore our oceans’ underwater wonders through sustainable tourism. The Global Ocean Refuge System recognizes the world’s best protected areas and helps ocean adventurers find their next destination!

Learn more

Photo: Joakim Odelberg

High seas conservation

Marine Conservation Institute is working with the global scientific community to provide necessary information to help establish high seas protected areas and to strengthen high-seas governance.

Learn more

Photo: Jon Weller

Developing tools to advance scientific understanding

Ours experts are collaborating with Esri to create the world’s first 3-D map of our oceans to help scientists and decision makers better understand the oceans and revolutionize how we conserve marine life.

Learn more

Map: ESRI