One of world’s largest marine parks created off coast of Easter Island
Rapa Nui protection area, about same size as Chilean mainland, will protect up to 142 species, including 27 threatened with extinction.
Ocean health
Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface and regulate climate, feed billions, and sustain extraordinary biodiversity. This archive tracks verified progress on ocean health — from coral reef recovery and plastic reduction to marine protected areas and fishing reform. It covers what’s working and who’s making it happen.
Nine of the world’s largest fisheries pledge to eradicate overfishing
Signatories of the pact include Maruha Nichiro Corporation and Nippon Suisan Kaish, the two largest fishing companies by revenues, as well as the world’s two largest tuna companies and the two largest aquafeed companies.
Obama expands Papahānaumokuākea to create the world’s largest marine protected area
Papahānaumokuākea became the largest marine protected area on Earth in 2016, when President Obama expanded the Hawaiian ocean sanctuary to 582,578 square miles — more than four times its original size. The reserve shelters over 7,000 species, including Hawaiian monk seals and black coral, in some of the most intact reefs in U.S. waters.
U.N. adopts resolution to develop a high seas biodiversity treaty
High seas protection took a real step forward in 2015, when every U.N. member state agreed by consensus to begin negotiating a legally binding treaty for the open ocean. The waters beyond national borders cover more than 60 percent of the sea, yet had long lacked meaningful rules. This resolution opened the door.