Marine Protected Areas
Recognition for Outstanding Conservation
With Marine Conservation Institute
Blue Parks and Blue Sparks
In 2023, Blue partnered with the Marine Conservation Institute to support the Blue Park Award and welcome three Blue Parks to the global network of outstanding protected areas in the ocean.
The winners were announced at the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, Canada, on 5 Feb 2023. Pitcairn Islands Marine Protected Area (Pitcairn Islands, UK), Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resources Area (Panama), and Tupinambás Ecological Station & Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge (Brazil) join a growing network of 27 awarded Blue Parks around the globe that have met the highest science-based standards for conservation effectiveness.
To seek strong protection for at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (“30 by 30”) for ourselves as well as for future generations, the U.S. NGO Marine Conservation Institute initiated the Blue Park Awards. It aims to encourage high-quality marine protected areas (MPAs) that safeguard marine wildlife, secure critical habitats and promote resilience. An international council of marine conservation experts made the Blue Park Award decisions using criteria based on the science of MPA effectiveness. Presented annually since its launch in 2017, Blue Parks now cover a total of 2,744,687 sq. km (1,059,730 sq. miles) of the ocean in the waters of 22 countries.
Blue will continue to work with the Marine Conservation Institute to introduce small grant schemes to support Blue Sparks, a group of newly planned and existing marine protected areas that aspire to reach blue park quality conservations.