By Marine Conservation Institute | June 23, 2026
Last week, the ocean experienced a wave of progress.
Governments, scientists, and advocates from around the world gathered in Mombasa, Kenya for the 11th Our Ocean Conference. The conference provided a platform for governments to make tangible, voluntary commitments towards mitigating biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, and pollution. However, as voices from across the ocean community made clear throughout the week, commitments alone won’t save the ocean. With the 2030 deadline for the global 30x30 goal now just four years away, the stakes have never been higher. What matters now is action.
Here’s our recap of the major announcements from OOC11 and what they mean for the future of ocean protection.
2026 Blue Park Awards
Amid the flurry of new commitments, OOC11 also offered a moment to celebrate what truly excellent ocean protection looks like in practice. On the opening day of the conference, Marine Conservation Institute honored six outstanding marine protected areas at the 2026 Blue Park Awards – recognizing MPAs that meet rigorous, science-based standards for conservation effectiveness. These are not just areas on a map. They are living proof that strong, well-managed protection works. The following MPAs earned the prestigious award for their commitment and leadership to long-term, meaningful ocean protection:
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- Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (Canada)
- KAWAWANA Indigenous Community Heritage Area (Senegal)
- Nosy Hara National Park (Madagascar)
- Nosy Tanihely National Park (Madagascar)
- Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area (Chile)
- Sahamalaza-îles Radama National Park (Madagascar)
You can read more about them in our recent press release.
MPA Announcements
A total of 67 commitments related to marine protected areas (MPAs) were made, mobilizing $355 million – a meaningful show of momentum. As is true of the commitments made at most international ocean conferences; however, the majority of the announcements pertain to the proposal or designation of new MPAs, meaning that although intention or legal recognition is in place, additional time and resources are required before these areas are in force on the water and have the ability to begin generating meaningful biodiversity benefits.
Most likely to move the global needle from 3.5%, French Polynesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening protection in Tainui Atea, adding nearly 520,000 km² of additional fully protected marine area within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and achieving full protection for 30% of their national waters. The community of Juan Fernandez in Chile also reaffirmed their commitment to fully protecting approximately 337,000 km2 of their EEZ, adjacent to the existing Juan Fernandez and Nazca Desventuradas Marine Parks. These two large-scale commitments alone could increase global fully and highly protected area to nearly 3.8%.
Similarly exciting is Portugal’s announcement of the creation of the D. Carlos Marine Nature Reserve, which will be the largest marine protected area in Portugal, covering 173,000 km2 in Madeira. The site encompasses the Gorringe Bank complex, a marine biodiversity hotspot and pushes Portugal closer to achieving 30% by 2030.
Many other countries made outstanding commitments and announcements related to the creation of new MPAs in their national waters:
- The Government of Tanzania commits to establishing a new marine protected area in Kilwa District, covering approximately 2,500km2 by 2028. Tanzania also officially designated the North-East Pemba Conservation Area (837 km2) and South-East Pemba Conservation Area (468 km2), originally announced at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.
- By 2026, the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania commit to finalize a joint framework agreement for the Kwale–Tanga Transboundary Marine Conservation Area, with the aim of having legal designation, a joint management plan, and a shared monitoring system for the 200 km2 area by 2028.
- By 2027, the Government of Kenya will complete ecological assessments, community consultations, and submit the nomination dossier, leading to the formal designation of the Msambweni–Vanga Seascape as a Ramsar Site, protecting at least 716 km2 of critical coastal wetlands.
- The Government of Peru commits to preparing a technical dossier for the establishment of the Cordilleras Profundas del Norte León XIV Marine Reserve.
- Coral Triangle Center commits to supporting the establishment of new marine protected areas in Metinaro and Manufahi, Timor-Leste, by 2028 covering approximately 600 km2 of ecologically significant coastal and marine ecosystems.
- The Government of French Polynesia designates more than 27,000 km² of new regulated fishing areas, coastal protection zones and seamount protection areas across the Austral and Marquesas archipelagos.
- São Tomé and Principe announced the designation of two MPAs, Santana Area for habitat or species management (7.4 km2) and Ilhéu das Rolas – Malanza – Jalé Area for habitat or species management (55.8 km2). These are the first designated MPAs in a network of eight MPAs that São Tomé and Principe committed to at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. Each of the MPAs will have a highly protected zone that allows only subsistence fishing with a larger partially protected zone.
- Madagascar announced their intention to make their currently temporary MPAs permanent by 2026, including Diego Bay and Emerald Sea, Sorkay, Ria i Androy / Atimo Vata’e, and Tandavandriva Nosy Be protected areas.
- CONFREM Brasil commits to support 12 marine extractive reserves in Pará, and creation of at least three more by 2030.
Additionally, a renewed spirit of ocean stewardship was evidenced through growing commitments to the 30x30 goal, a multitude of countries brought together by pledges and declarations to strong protection, and ever-growing enthusiasm and cooperation to develop the first MPAs under the BBNJ Agreement:
30x30 Commitments - MPA Expansion
- Senegal committed to double the size of its MPA network by 2030
- Gabon reaffirmed their commitment to achieving 30% marine protection by 2030 through a Blue Bonds debt-for-nature swap.
- Comoros committed to the 30x30 goal.
- The Government of Australia commits to designate at least 30% of Australia’s ocean in highly protected marine protected areas by 2030, including preparation of new management plans for 44 Australian Marine Parks.
- The Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation ICMBio will increase the coverage of Marine Protected Areas in Brazil by around 240,000 km² within the next five years.
- The Government of Indonesia commits to designate 7,000 km² of new marine protected areas in 2026.
Stronger Ocean Protections
- 15 countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration to advance fisheries transparency and combat illegal fishing
- “No more empty pledges": Small-scale fishers, Indigenous Peoples and Civil society collective statement released.
- Kenya joined over 40 countries in officially supporting a precautionary moratorium (or pause) on deep-sea mining.
- Belgium commits to advancing the designation of three no-anchoring areas under the IMO in the Belgian part of the North Sea.
High Seas
- The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as current President of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS), commits to promote dialogue and coordination to explore the establishment of a marine protected area in the South Atlantic, in accordance with the provisions of the BBNJ Agreement.
- A new regional initiative between Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau to advance transboundary offshore marine protected areas and the development of a proposal for a high seas marine protected area in the convergence zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.
Beyond Paper Parks: 30x30 with Standards
The 11th Our Ocean Conference leaves the ocean community with real energy behind the 30x30 goal. New commitments were made, new protected areas were designated, and the global community reaffirmed that protecting the ocean is both an ecological imperative and a moral one. These moments are hope-filled and important to celebrate.
At the same time, this is the moment to stay focused on ensuring efforts towards 30x30 are intentional and meaningful. Designating an MPA is not the same as protecting it.
As John Kerry, the Founder of the Our Ocean Conference, stated in a speech at OOC11:
“We must make 30x30 real – protecting 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. Not a slogan. It requires new marine protected areas, and the resources necessary to enforce them. It doesn’t do any good to stand up and say ‘we’re creating a marine protected area here’ if you don’t protect it. In too many parts of the world, we’re not doing that right now. About 3% of the world’s announced marine protected areas are actually fully protected. About 10% have some coverage. That’s a step forward, but it’s not enough.”
The commitments made at OOC11 are only the beginning. Next comes the hard work: translating promises into enforceable protections, securing sustainable funding, and ensuring that MPAs are managed with the rigor needed to genuinely restore biodiversity. At Marine Conservation Institute, we are committed to holding the line on what strong protection means. We will continue tracking meaningful ocean conservation progress, championing science-based standards, and growing a global network of Blue Parks – because the ocean doesn’t need more promises. It needs protection that works.