Marine Conservation Institute

?? Join us at the San Diego Environmental Film Festival this Saturday, November 23! Catch the screening of "The Blue Quest Palawan" at 7:50 PM PST, followed by an engaging panel discussion at 8:30 PM featuring Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute, and other experts. The award-winning documentary, directed by Clément Pourtal and Jér?me Brousse, explores marine conservation efforts in Palawan, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Philippines' Coral Triangle, often called the country's "last ecological frontier". It highlights the work of organizations like the Sulubaai Environmental Foundation, C3 Philippines, and the Tubbataha Reefs National Park, showcasing community-driven initiatives aimed at preserving marine biodiversity. Don’t miss this inspiring event! ?? UCSD Suraj Israni Cinematic Arts Building ??? Details and tickets: sdeff.org https://lnkd.in/eE6GFcK4 #SDEFF2024 #BlueQuestPalawan #OceanConservation #MarineBiodiversity #FilmFestival

A big thank you to the Jack London Yacht Club and the Glen Ellen community for their generous $1,000 grant to Marine Conservation Institute. This grant supports our mission to protect the ocean’s most important places by empowering communities, raising awareness, and inspiring future generations to safeguard marine life. Together, we’re driving real impact for our planet’s ocean. #JackLondonYachtClub #MarineConservation

Blue Parks in Action: How Small Grants Make Big Waves for Ocean Protection Across the globe, local marine protected area (MPA) managers are the first line of defense against threats to our ocean. Our 2023 Blue Park Small Grants helped empower these local stewards to address urgent challenges, from pollution and climate change to sustainable tourism and community engagement. Discover stories from the field—like the newly equipped rangers at Apo Reef in the Philippines, community-driven mangrove restoration in Colombia, and environmental education initiatives in Chile. Each grant brings us one step closer to resilient oceans and thriving biodiversity. Read the full article to see how these grants have made an impact, and consider supporting Blue Park Small Grants to fuel future conservation projects: https://lnkd.in/g_c6fWsc Blue Park Small Grants are powered by Blue (Blue.ngo). #BlueParks #MarineConservation #BlueParkAward?#MPAs #30x30

Explore the Ocean Pavilion at COP29 – Solutions for Our Blue Planet! Marine Conservation Institute is excited to share that the Ocean Pavilion is currently underway at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, 2024. The Pavilion brings together global leaders in ocean science, engineering, and policy, all dedicated to advancing the message that the ocean is critical in combating climate change and supporting a sustainable future. The Ocean Pavilion themes include: Ocean Justice & Equity – Ensuring fair access to ocean resources and protection for vulnerable communities. Ocean Life & Biodiversity – Preserving critical marine ecosystems in the face of climate change. Blue Resilience & Adaptation – Strengthening coastal resilience to meet the challenges of a changing ocean. Program: https://lnkd.in/gkPeWEAP Join us in supporting the critical role of ocean health in climate solutions. #OceanPavilion #COP29 #MarineConservation #ClimateAction #BlueEconomy

Applications just opened for the High Seas Youth Ambassadors program! EarthEcho International and High Seas Alliance are teaming up to equip young ocean advocates, ages 17-22, from key regions around the world with the training and resources needed to lead innovative campaigns to advance #HighSeasTreaty ratification. Apply to help ensure this global treaty becomes law and enables the protection of ocean biodiversity in international waters ?? www.bit.ly/HighSeas-Apply #GenSea #RaceforRatification

From Pledges to Protection: MCI Leads the Charge for Our Oceans Released just before COP16, the "On Track or Off Course?" report drove urgent discussions and widespread media coverage at the summit. Commissioned by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Ocean Fund and developed with Marine Conservation Institute, SkyTruth, and Campaign for Nature, the report highlights the need to shift from symbolic pledges to real action in ocean protection. The findings—only 2.8% of the world’s oceans effectively protected and 8.3% designated for protection—reveal a significant gap between commitments and actual safeguards. Based on Marine Conservation Institute’s research and published in Conservation Letters, the analysis led by Beth Pike, Director of the Marine Protection Atlas, sets a benchmark for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and stresses the need for meaningful, quality protection. Beth Pike’s words capture the urgency of the findings: “Less than 3% of marine areas are truly protected. The gap between promise and action is huge. We need real change now, not just words on paper.” These are some of the news articles that mention MCI research: ? NPR: https://lnkd.in/gvwwXFGB ? The Guardian: https://lnkd.in/g-d_bd-M ? Down to Earth: https://lnkd.in/gizZJ2en ? France24: https://lnkd.in/gfrbdc3m ? Yahoo News: https://lnkd.in/gyw_tgfT As we reflect on COP16, it’s clear that Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework isn’t just about protecting more ocean—it’s about protecting it well. Marine Conservation Institute is advancing this vision by setting standards for MPAs that fulfill its essential requirements: ? Effective management ? Equitable governance ? Inclusiveness ? Conservation outcomes Instead of a rush to expand protected areas, we must ensure the most critical areas for nature receive lasting, impactful protection. #30x30 #OceanConservation #MarineProtectedAreas #COP16 #BiodiversityProtection

A Milestone for Indigenous Voices in Conservation at COP16! COP16 closed with a historic decision to establish a permanent body that empowers Indigenous communities to directly advise on global conservation. For the first time, Indigenous perspectives will be woven into decision-making, recognizing the critical role their knowledge plays in preserving biodiversity and combating climate change. This groundbreaking measure didn’t come without challenges. While funding plans for species protection remain unresolved, a separate agreement was reached to create a fund that channels profits from genetic resources back to Indigenous and local communities—a vital step toward equitable conservation. Dive deeper into how COP16 is reshaping biodiversity protection for a more inclusive and sustainable future: https://lnkd.in/gpYC-6Fb #COP16 #IndigenousRights #Conservation #Biodiversity #ClimateAction

Protecting the High Seas: Urgent Call for Conservation in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Marine Conservation Institute’s President, Dr. Lance Morgan, in collaboration with leading ocean scientists, co-authored a groundbreaking study on the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges in the southeastern Pacific. Based on comprehensive global datasets and GIS analyses, this research underscores the region’s extraordinary biodiversity, unique cultural heritage, and vital ecological roles?as foraging, nesting, and nursery habitats. The many seamounts and migration corridors?in this area support a high number of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Although Chile and Peru have protected parts of these ridges within their national waters, over 73% of this ecologically critical area lies unprotected in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). With the High Seas Treaty?and 30x30 target?frameworks now in place, the Coral Reefs in the High Seas Coalition, which commissioned the study, is calling for urgent protection before human pressures irreversibly impact these fragile ecosystems. To safeguard these fragile ecosystems, the?research calls for essential measures: closing key ABNJ areas to fishing, enhancing international cooperation, rejecting exploratory fishing proposals, and advancing research to ensure that management strategies are based on the best available science. Read the Full Study: https://lnkd.in/gxhMHUKX #HighSeasTreaty #ABNJ #30x30 #MarineConservation

Are Mediterranean MPAs Truly Protecting Marine Life? The Mediterranean Sea is rich in biodiversity, but many of its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) exist only on paper. With weak protections and insufficient enforcement, endangered species like the Mediterranean monk seal and Atlantic bluefin tuna remain at risk. This article by Sabrina Croft explores why Mediterranean MPAs are falling short and highlights effective models that offer hope for real change. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gG5DfB2D #MediterraneanSea #EndangeredSpecies #MPAs #BlueParkStandard #MarineConservation #30x30

Beyond 30%: The Four Dimensions of Conservation Quality For 25 years, Marine Conservation Institute has championed the importance of quality protection in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).?Our aim is to incentivize, empower, and track MPAs that genuinely protect biodiversity and benefit communities. We prioritize: ?? Effective management ?? Equitable governance ?? Inclusiveness ?? Conservation outcomes The latest IUCN Protected Planet Report highlights that to reach the 30% target for protected areas, we need to expand rapidly. However, this expansion won't matter unless it leads to real conservation outcomes.?Through our MPAtlas initiative, we assess and advocate for these standards, ensuring that MPAs are well-managed and effectively contributing to the 30x30 target. Explore how quality-driven conservation can lead us to success by 2030. https://lnkd.in/d-DbNBew #30x30 #MPAtlas #MarineConservation #MPAs