World Ocean Day: UK leads on marine protection as Government signs up to new ‘30by30’ commitment

On World Ocean Day, the UK solidified its commitment to climate goals by announcing its leadership of an ambitious new 30% by 2030 marine conservation target.

With signatories including India and South Korea, this target commits nations to protecting 30% of the world’s land and 30% of its oceans by 2030, alongside meeting ‘30x30’ targets on domestic scales.

This commitment results from a successful G7 meeting of Climate and Environment ministers, where all members supported the goal. The ‘30x30’ target has been advocated for by the UK-led Global Ocean Alliance and the collaborative High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People, of which the UK is a co-chair.

Supporting the Environment Secretary’s description of the UK as ‘a global leader in marine protection’, the UK Government is also launching a pilot ‘Highly Protected Marine Areas’ (HPMAs) scheme in England’s waters. An outcome of the independent Benyon Review, these areas will enjoy higher levels of protection and will drive marine ecosystem recovery. Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are set to identify suitable sites for the scheme in the coming year.

The Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, has expressed delight at this development, describing it as a ‘great opportunity to explore how highly protected areas can mitigate the impact of human activities’. This feeling is shared by The Wildlife Trusts’ Director of Policy and Public Affairs, who described HPMAs as emblematic of a vital ‘gold standard’ for marine protection and a ‘fantastic step-forward’.

Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said: "The UK is a global leader in marine protection, and we are leading the way internationally to deliver healthy and sustainable seas. We must strike a balance in supporting sustainable industries while increasing protections for our seas to ensure a healthy, resilient and diverse marine ecosystem and we will work with others as we develop future protections."

These advances come as the findings of the largest ever survey of English and Welsh public opinion towards our oceans are published by Defra and the Ocean Conservation Trust. The results show that 85% of people perceive oceans as holding personal importance, with 84% viewing coastal environments as positive for their mental health and 80% viewing them as beneficial for their physical wellbeing.