Business
30 May 2025
With just five years left to meet the EU’s 2030 target of protecting at least 30% of its marine areas – including 10% under strict protection – a new WWF report, Protecting and restoring our seas: Europe’s challenge to meet the 2030 targets, reveals that Member States are dangerously off track.
Despite growing ecological and social urgency, only 2.04% of EU seas are currently covered by Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with management plans.
Without clear objectives, conservation measures or restoration actions that are provided by these management plans, these sites remain protected in name only, while harmful activities often continue unchecked.
The report comes on the eve of the European Commission’s launch of its long-awaited Ocean Pact, and just days before the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
‘This is far from what is needed to protect ocean health and the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. As so often with ocean policy, the framework is there but implementation is weak or missing altogether. Governments must walk the walk on marine protection or risk leaving these sites as little more than dots on a map.’
JACOB ARMSTRONG
Ocean manager at WWF European Policy Office
The analysis highlights two other major failings in current MPAs, in addition to the lack of management plans.
First, there is a striking difference among Member States’ ambitions: only eight of them have formally submitted biodiversity pledges related to protected areas.
Second, reporting across EU Member States is often inconsistent, delayed and incomplete, resulting in a fragmented view of marine protection efforts.
This finding raises serious concerns about how we can design and implement effective marine policies in the absence of reliable data.
The share of EU marine areas designated as marine protected areas (MPAs) with management plans in place varies widely between countries.
Belgium leads the ranking at 35.04%, while Greece, Croatia and Ireland – among others – report a striking 0%.
However, it should be noted that this assessment does not reveal the efficacy of those management plans.
In some cases, the plans may simply reflect ‘business as usual’, without any conservation efforts made since the designation.
‘The upcoming EU Ocean Pact must mark a watershed moment for ocean policy – where governments take concrete action to protect our ocean and the vital role it plays in our daily lives, from buffering the impacts of climate change to sustaining our food system. Ensuring that Marine Protected Areas are properly managed and enforced is the best way to make this happen.’
JACOB ARMSTRONG
Ocean manager at WWF European Policy Office
Lewis Pugh completes historic Martha’s Vineyard ‘Shark Swim’ for the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
UK marine protected areas suffer over 20,000 hours of suspected bottom trawling.
Time to act on the ongoing sewage crisis, as just one in five trust UK waterways will be safe to swim in by 2030
Subscribe to our newsletter
Weekly ethical news, offers, comps and a free digital mag (quarterly) – what’s not to love?
