Former Seychelles President Urges Global Action on Ocean Protection
With less than four years until a 2030 deadline, nations must accelerate marine conservation efforts and ensure protected areas are effectively managed, writes Danny Faure.
Global sea-surface temperatures reached a record high in August, serving as a stark warning of the ocean's vulnerability, according to former Seychelles President Danny Faure. This follows a comprehensive assessment showing that increasingly frequent marine heatwaves are leaving coral reefs with insufficient recovery time between bleaching events. Global hard coral cover has declined by 9.5% compared to the 1980-2009 average, primarily due to human-induced climate change.
Faure, who hails from Seychelles, an archipelago nation where the ocean is integral to its economy and way of life, emphasizes the possibility of ambitious conservation when political will is matched by action. In 2020, during his presidency, Seychelles designated 30% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a marine protected area, preceding the global target of protecting 30% of land and ocean by 2030.
Despite progress since the 2022 adoption of the global goal, marine protection lags behind terrestrial conservation. While nearly 20% of land and inland waters are designated as protected or conserved, with existing commitments potentially reaching 27% by 2030, only about 10% of the global ocean is currently protected. Projections suggest this figure will only rise to around 12% by 2030 under current commitments.
Accelerating Marine Conservation
The coming years require a heightened focus on ocean protection. Governments need to establish more marine protected areas (MPAs), strengthen national commitments, and transition from setting targets to implementing actual protection measures. Reducing pressures from overfishing, pollution, and damaging extraction is crucial, alongside establishing well-designed and effectively managed MPAs.
However, designating areas on a map is insufficient. The 2026 Ocean Protection Gap Report indicates that only 3.5% of the global ocean is considered effectively protected, despite 10% being designated as such. Effective protection necessitates robust management, monitoring, enforcement, and sustained financial support. Seychelles is currently working to translate its extensive marine protection designations into tangible results through its Marine Spatial Plan Initiative, which includes legally binding no-take zones.
The Role of the High Seas Treaty
Closing the ocean protection gap also requires addressing the high seas, which constitute roughly two-thirds of the global ocean but have minimal protection. The High Seas Treaty offers a new legal framework for establishing MPAs beyond national jurisdiction. Seychelles was the first African nation to ratify the treaty, recognizing that shared ocean health is critical.
Significant financial investment is needed to meet conservation goals. Estimates suggest an annual requirement of approximately $16 billion for marine protection under the 30% target, a substantial increase from the current estimated expenditure of around $1.8 billion. Without adequate resources, protected areas risk remaining symbolic rather than functional.
As leaders convene for international discussions, ocean protection should be integrated into dialogues on climate resilience, food security, and economic stability. The upcoming COP17 in Armenia presents another opportunity for governments to address these critical issues. Recent successes in marine conservation, such as expansions in French Polynesia and meaningful increases in effective protection by Samoa and Portugal, offer reasons for optimism. The next four years represent a crucial window to expand marine protected areas, enhance their effectiveness, and leverage international agreements like the High Seas Treaty to safeguard biodiversity and ensure the health of shared ocean resources for future generations.