Marine Protected Areas’

Recognition for Outstanding Conservation

With the Marine Conservation Institute

2024 Blue Park Awards

Building on our ongoing partnership with the Marine Conservation Institute, we are excited to announce the addition of three new marine protected areas (MPAs) to the global network of exceptional ocean sanctuaries.

The 2024 Blue Park Awards were announced on April 17 at the Our Ocean Conference, during a high-profile event co-hosted by the Marine Conservation Institute and the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, titled “Achieving 30x30 in the Ocean: Recognising Local and National Actions.” This event will celebrate these well-protected MPAs and honor their remarkable contributions to preserving marine biodiversity.

Three new MPAs

  • Located in the biodiverse Coral Triangle, Siete Pecados Marine Park is part of the Calamianes Island Network in the Philippines. Proximity to other nearby MPAs allows for ecological connectivity across important marine habitats such as coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows.

  • Located in the heart of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Territory on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Gitdisdzu Lugyeks (Kitasu Bay) Marine Protected Area was established as an Indigenous-led MPA with the intent to protect, manage, and enhance the marine resources which are integral to Kitasoo Xai’xais culture and way of life.

  • Identified as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, the Tristan da Cunha archipelago is made up of four islands located in the South Atlantic. The Tristan da Cunha Exclusive Economic Zone is unique in that it is a large no-take zone with low levels of human disturbance, allowing this temperate marine ecosystem to thrive.

The Blue Park initiative

The Blue Parks initiative brings together the ocean's best-protected areas and the dedicated individuals who advocate for them, forming a strategic network to safeguard marine life. The initiative aims to promote high-quality Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that protect marine wildlife, preserve critical habitats, and enhance ecosystem resilience. Anchored by an international Science Council, the Blue Parks initiative is grounded in rigorous scientific research. An international council of marine conservation experts selects the recipients of the Blue Park Award based on criteria rooted in the science of MPA effectiveness.

In 2023, the Blue Parks initiative received endorsement from the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 ("UN Ocean Decade"). This endorsement aligns Blue Parks with a global network of initiatives working toward the shared vision of "the science we need for the ocean we want."

Since its launch in 2017, the Blue Parks initiative has recognised 27 MPAs that meet its high standards. Together, these areas represent approximately 11% of the world's total marine protected area.

For a comprehensive guide to all MPAs worldwide, visit the Marine Protection Atlas.