ITS EDUCATION ASIA ARTICLE

Marine Protection aiming for 30%

By Danny Harrington, MD ITS Education Asia

The fifth Marine Protected Area Congress takes place early Feb and William to get agreements in place to protect 30% of the worlds oceans by 2030.

Of course this is a hugely important area for work. The oceans are famous for being the last great on planet unknown but what we do know about the unknowns is that they very likely hold keys to biodiversity and climate control that we probably do not want to upset.

Today less than 8% of the world’s ocean is covered by MPAs. The problems we need to be aware f though are two fold in my mind:

1. Are the governance and enforcement processes going to be realistic and achievable. an MPA that is ignored is not an MPA.
2. Why 30%? Just so you can say 30 by 30? I am increasingly suspicious of catchy, pithy streamlines like this. This is serious people.