Over the years, we have carried out extensive public opinion research and tested ocean conservation messages to support our global network of partners in building stronger public support for healthy, sustainable marine ecosystems, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and in advancing science-based policy.
Along with organizations like Heartwired for the Ocean, we have found that hope-centered messaging about MPAs not only helps raise awareness about MPAs and engages diverse audiences but also invites people to show support for protecting special places in our ocean.
Most people are unfamiliar with MPAs. Many more people know about national parks. With effective messaging, however, we have found that people are overwhelmingly supportive of MPAs once they learn what they are and why they matter. Support has been consistent across age, gender, race, ethnicity, and we have seen no evidence of political polarization around MPAs.
We have seen (e.g., here) that people’s strongest concern is for ocean wildlife and the need to provide marine animals with safe, healthy habitats. MPAs speak directly to those values by protecting biodiversity and helping ecosystems recover, which makes them a powerful and accessible entry point for public engagement.
At its core, the challenge is not public apathy toward ocean protection, but a lack of exposure to information about MPAs. As the global community moves to protect at least 30% of the ocean and other waters by 2030 (30×30), the World Ocean Day network is uniquely positioned to help generate the widespread public support required to translate commitments on the High Seas and along national coastlines into durable protection.
The newly announced World Ocean Day 2026 Action Theme “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet” will shape global action in the years ahead. We look forward to working with our diverse network of organizations across nearly 200 countries to help drive this effort forward.
World leaders have committed to protecting 30% of our blue planet, both within national waters and across the High Seas – an area covering two-thirds of the ocean and nearly one-half of Earth’s surface. Now they need to follow through!
Our ocean regulates the climate, supports extraordinary biodiversity, sustains livelihoods, and holds untapped scientific and medical potential. No matter where we live, whether on the coast or far inland, we all depend on a healthy ocean for a stable climate. MPAs can provide long-term protection for marine and coastal ecosystems and in the process also provide natural solutions to climate impacts through mitigation, adaptation and enhanced resilience.
Creating strongly regulated MPAs is essential to turning global commitments into real conservation outcomes. Implementation will require collective effort, accountability, and sustained public engagement.
Together, we have enormous potential to accelerate meaningful ocean conservation action worldwide and create strong and durable MPAs that will help protect our blue planet!
