Governments face growing public pressure to accelerate marine conservation as a new international survey finds that nearly eight in 10 people want faster action to protect the ocean, while global progress towards the 2030 conservation target remains significantly behind schedule.
The survey of 20,000 people across 20 countries found that 79 per cent believe governments need to move faster on ocean protection. A further 95 per cent said areas designated for conservation must be effectively managed, rather than protected in name only, highlighting a public expectation that international commitments should produce measurable results in the water.
The findings were released ahead of the Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity in Armenia on 16 October and the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, known as COP17, scheduled for 19–30 October in Yerevan. The conference will undertake the first global review of collective progress towards implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, including its commitment to protect and conserve at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030.
The survey comes as more than 140 civil society organisations and leaders have called on governments to accelerate ocean protection, improve the management of existing protected areas, respect the rights and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and mobilise the finance required to deliver lasting conservation outcomes.
The scale of the implementation gap is substantial. Around 10 per cent of the global ocean is currently designated as protected or conserved, while existing national commitments would raise that share to only about 12 per cent by 2030. Just 3.5 per cent of the ocean is assessed as effectively protected, according to figures cited by the campaign behind the survey.
The difference between designation and effective protection is central to the debate. Establishing a marine protected area does not necessarily prevent damaging activities or ensure that ecosystems recover. Outcomes depend on the restrictions imposed, the resources available for monitoring and enforcement, and whether the rules are applied consistently.
The survey suggests that governments could face a credibility challenge if protected areas fail to deliver meaningful results. Nearly six in 10 respondents said their trust in governments would be undermined if designated conservation areas did not provide real protection. More than half, or 52 per cent, said governments should take all reasonable steps to meet the global 30-by-30 target, while 80 per cent believe governments attending COP17 should agree on actions to accelerate ocean conservation before 2030.
Support for faster action was recorded across the countries surveyed. In Brazil and Indonesia, 90 per cent of respondents said governments should act more quickly. The figures were 87 per cent in Argentina, 85 per cent in India, and 81 per cent in both Nigeria and France. The results indicate that concern about ocean protection extends across regions with different economic conditions and relationships with marine resources.
For African countries, the issue is closely connected to livelihoods, food security and economic resilience. Coastal communities depend on fisheries and marine ecosystems for employment, nutrition and local commerce, while tourism and other ocean-related industries rely on healthy marine environments. The condition of reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and other coastal habitats can also influence how communities withstand storms, erosion and other climate-related pressures.
The consequences of ineffective conservation are therefore not limited to biodiversity loss. Declining fish populations can undermine the incomes of fishing communities and affect the availability of affordable protein. Damage to coastal habitats can reduce natural protection against waves and storms, increasing the vulnerability of settlements and infrastructure. Weak management can also leave governments with protected areas on official maps but limited ecological or economic benefits.
Dr Kathryn Matthews, chief scientist and senior vice-president at Oceana, said governments had fallen behind their own commitments and called for science-led planning, equitable governance, restrictions on destructive fishing and stronger enforcement. Her comments reflect a broader concern among conservation organisations that the pace of designation must be matched by measures that change what happens within protected waters.
Callum Roberts, professor of marine conservation at the University of Exeter, has also highlighted scientific evidence that marine ecosystems can recover when destructive activities are removed and habitats are given space to regenerate. Effective protection can help rebuild biodiversity and improve the resilience of marine ecosystems, although results depend on local ecological conditions and the quality of management.
The civil society call also places community participation at the centre of the 30-by-30 agenda. Indigenous Peoples and local communities often hold detailed knowledge of marine ecosystems and have established practices for managing natural resources. Conservation measures designed without their participation can create conflict over access to fishing grounds and other resources, while failing to draw on local expertise. Signatories argue that conservation should respect community rights and ensure that people whose livelihoods depend on the ocean have a meaningful role in decisions.
Women’s participation and leadership are another part of the debate. Cristina Tebar Less, policy director at SHE Changes Ocean, has argued that women already contribute to ocean protection but are frequently excluded from the decisions and financial resources that shape conservation. Delivering the global target will require inclusive governance and equitable access to funding, consistent with the biodiversity framework’s commitment to gender equality.
Financing remains a critical constraint. Establishing and managing protected areas requires sustained funding for scientific monitoring, enforcement, community engagement and administration. Without adequate resources, governments may struggle to prevent illegal or destructive activities, assess whether ecosystems are recovering or maintain conservation programmes over time. Civil society organisations are therefore urging countries to connect their commitments to practical financing plans and measurable management outcomes.
The ocean’s role in regulating the climate adds urgency to the issue. Marine ecosystems absorb heat and carbon dioxide, support global food webs and sustain economic activity across coastal regions. Ocean warming, acidification, deoxygenation, pollution and unsustainable fishing are placing additional pressure on marine environments, making it increasingly important to address biodiversity loss and climate change together.
For young people and island communities, the gap between international commitments and action has particular significance. Brianna Fruean, a climate activist from Samoa and Together for the Ocean ambassador, has emphasised the cultural and social importance of the Pacific Ocean, while calling for governments to support community-led conservation with political commitment and resources. Her perspective reflects the dependence of many island communities on marine ecosystems not only for income and food, but also for identity and cultural continuity.
COP17 will provide governments with an opportunity to assess progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and determine how implementation can be accelerated. The ocean protection campaign is pressing governments to move beyond broad commitments by improving management, enforcing restrictions, financing conservation and ensuring local communities participate in decisions.
With four years remaining until 2030, the central measure of progress will be whether protection translates into healthier ecosystems and more resilient coastal economies. The survey suggests that the public expects governments to demonstrate that difference. The challenge for leaders in Armenia will be to turn that expectation into commitments that can be funded, monitored and enforced before the deadline arrives.
