Marine Protected Areas: Promises and Reality

The world has committed to protecting 30% of oceans by 2030, but many existing marine protected areas are "paper parks" with little actual protection. Blue Ocean News audits the effectiveness of these conservation zones.

Real protection requires patrol vessels, enforcement staff, and political will—resources many countries lack. This investigation visits protected areas where fishing continues illegally and others where genuine conservation is working.

Community-managed reserves, often more effective than government-led parks, face challenges scaling up. This story examines successful models and asks whether ambitious global targets can translate to real ocean protection.