Wednesday September 23, 2026
Forbes —
Just 10% of the world’s oceans have been designated for conservation, with efforts to protect more lagging behind, according to a new analysis. The report – The Ocean Gap Protection Report 2026 – published today by a consortium of NGOs and funders, warns the amount of ocean area designated for conservation is set to increase to just 12% by 2030
It also reveals around $1.8 billion a year currently flows to ocean protection efforts.
It argues this is a fraction of the $16 billion needed to deliver previously agreed targets of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
“The expansion of marine protected and conserved areas is also not yet matched by the conditions needed to deliver effective implementation,” the report states.
According to the study, only 3.5% of the global ocean is assessed as effectively protected, meaning harmful or destructive activity is excluded or reduced within those areas.