New Caledonia expands strictly protected coverage of its swath of the Pacific
New Caledonia’s expansion of strict ocean protections shows what’s possible when Indigenous communities, industry, and governments genuinely share the table. The newly protected waters shelter migratory corridors for whales, sea turtles, and sharks, along with a deep-sea trench — ecosystems among the slowest on Earth to recover from disturbance. Kanak peoples, who have lived alongside these waters for thousands of years, helped shape the decree directly. Ten percent is a milestone, not a finish line, and global strict protection sits at just 2.9%. But this expansion shows that meaningful ocean protection is achievable.