Assessment finds only 3.5% of the global ocean effectively protected

Sep 23, 3:25 PM UTC

Designation and effective protection remain far apart

A new global assessment estimates that about 10% of the ocean is designated for conservation but only 3.5% is fully or highly protected, the study’s proxy for effective protection. It projects coverage of roughly 12% by 2030 if existing quantified national commitments are fulfilled, against the international target of 30%. Conservation organizations produced the assessment; it is not the UN’s forthcoming official review. The distinction between designated and effectively protected areas provides the central practical context.

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