@savingoceans.bsky.social - Marine Conservation Institute

27 Aug 2026 20:23 +0000

Celebrating 30 years: in 2017 we launched the Blue Park Awards, recognizing highly effective MPAs worldwide. Congrats to those first winners—Papahānaumokuākea, Tubbataha Reefs & Malpelo! From 3 parks then to 40 today. Keep up the great work!

26 Aug 2026 16:06 +0000

#WildlifeWednesday 🐟 The Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve protects 800 meters of ocean and 1,000+ species, including snapper and camouflaged anemones. Its dense kelp forests and deep rocky reefs showcase New Zealand's unique coastal biodiversity.

25 Aug 2026 15:46 +0000

We've got news: we’re teaming up with Nomad Life! Blue Parks Advocate Erin Michelson joins Dr. Sarah Hameed for a live chat on the latest in marine conservation. Tomorrow, Aug 26, 8am PST. Plus, Erin matches every Nomad Life subscription, doubling your donation to Marine Conservation Institute.

21 Aug 2026 17:52 +0000

Kisite-Mpunguti MPA used a 2023 Blue Parks Small Grant to: enhance community participation in MPA management, sustainable fishing practices, and conservation awareness. They trained 40 patrol boat operators, delivered 300+ community education sessions and much more 🌊 Incredible work, KMNPA !

19 Aug 2026 17:18 +0000

Happy #WildlifeWednesday 🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands MPA protects 850,000+ km² and 1,200+ species—from breeding humpback whales to deep-growing corals and critically endangered whitetip reef sharks. A community of <50 people has sustained this Blue Park Platinum protection for 10 years.

17 Aug 2026 22:45 +0000

Long term ocean protection is powered by people, science, and systems. At Galápagos Marine Reserve, support for the Blue Parks Conservation Fund is strengthening enforcement and monitoring, 28 years running since 1998. 138,665 km² of protection home to 25 endangered species.

14 Aug 2026 19:49 +0000

Nearly half of Earth's surface is high seas. This year's High Seas Treaty gave us a real path to protect them - if we have the evidence to back it up. Here's how our High Seas Protection Portal is helping turn science into stronger protection. Read the full story: https://www.minderoo.org/stories/high-seas-protection-portal/

13 Aug 2026 18:13 +0000

A Blue Park Award isn't permanent — that's what makes it meaningful. Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary off Zanzibar has once again earned Gold Blue Park status after its five-year review. See how its reefs and rangers held strong through the pandemic 👇 https://marine-conservation.org/on-the-tide/enduring-blue-parks-chumbe-island-coral-reef-sanctuary/

12 Aug 2026 16:06 +0000

Happy #WildlifeWednesday from the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), Palau! 🇵🇼 Established in 2015, PNMS protects 80% of Palau's national waters in a fully protected no-take zone. It's home to 30 marine mammal species, 60 species of sharks and rays and more.👏

11 Aug 2026 19:20 +0000

Meet our new interns! 👋 We're thrilled to welcome Maryam, Priya, Srividya, Grace, and Jocelyn to the Marine Conservation Institute team! From our Blue Parks program to communications, they're diving right in to help us advance effective ocean protection.

10 Aug 2026 18:10 +0000

Moment #6 of 30 🌊 OOC11 just made history as the first Our Ocean Conference held in Africa — hosted in Mombasa, Kenya. It's also where we announce our Blue Park Awards each year (except UNOC years).

06 Aug 2026 18:22 +0000

🌊 Blue Parks Spotlight: Misool Marine Reserve, Raja Ampat. Community rangers, university-led reef monitoring, leopard shark rewilding with ReShark, and 1,331 metric tons of waste recycled since 2018. Community-led conservation in action. #BlueParks #RajaAmpat

05 Aug 2026 16:00 +0000

Brijuni National Park 🇭🇷 protects one of Croatia's most biologically valuable marine areas, where limestone reefs, underwater caves, and seagrass meadows support a vast biodiversity. Fish abundance is 166% higher inside the park than nearby unprotected waters, with nearly 8× more fish biomass.

04 Aug 2026 19:54 +0000

Goal met! 🌊 Since 2023, the Blue Parks Conservation Fund has sent donations straight to MPA managers on the frontlines. In 2024: 13 grants, 5+ countries, 35k+ distributed. In Ecuador, new tech cut report-prep time 28%. In Colombia, new gear helped rescue two shipwreck survivors. Thank you!

03 Aug 2026 21:29 +0000

Ocean with David Attenborough just got 6 Emmy nominations. A good moment to remember: only 3% of the ocean is protected from things like bottom trawling. 8% has "some" protection - most of it doesn't hold up. Chcek out the data yourself via our Marine Protection Atlas. mpatlas.org

31 Jul 2026 18:54 +0000

30x30 isn't just a numbers game. As Dona Bertarelli reminds us, protecting 30% of the ocean on paper means little if those protections aren't managed and enforced on the water. Real recovery depends on well-designed, well-funded, and well-enforced marine protected areas - not just lines on a map.

30 Jul 2026 18:08 +0000

🗞️ ISA's 31st session wraps in Kingston this week, closing another round on deep-seabed mining rules - covering contract-to-license conversion, environmental safeguards & equitable access. 🗺️ See what's at stake for yourself: https://marine-conservation.org/high-seas-protection-portal/ #DeepSeaMining #ISA #HighSeas

29 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000

Happy #WildlifeWednesday from Jardines de la Reina! This Blue Park is one of the Caribbean's last largely intact reef ecosystems. Across 2,170 km² and 661 cays, it protects 37 coral species, 283 fish species, endangered Nassau grouper, Caribbean reef sharks, sea turtles, and more. 🌊

22 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000

Meet some of the incredible wildlife of Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park 🇧🇸 from hawksbill turtles and reef sharks to Nassau grouper, queen conch, vibrant coral reefs, and the Bahamian rock iguana. #WildlifeWednesday #BlueParks #OceanConservation #30x30

20 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000

Moment #5 of 30 🌊 For more than a decade, MPAtlas has helped answer a question that matters just as much as how much of the ocean is protected: How well? By combining MPA data with science-based assessments, it helps track where protection is truly effective. #30Moments

17 Jul 2026 16:12 +0000

A Blue Park Award isn't permanent. Every 5 years, sites must prove they still meet the Blue Park Standard. Aldabra Atoll Special Reserve has once again retained its Platinum Blue Park status. Read why this remarkable ecosystem continues to set the standard. https://marine-conservation.org/on-the-tide/enduring-blue-parks-aldabra-atoll/

15 Jul 2026 17:07 +0000

Imagine descending into a reef alive with manta rays, humpback whales, whitetip reef sharks, and schools of endemic fish. Welcome to Revillagigedo National Park - a Blue Park where effective protection delivers thriving marine ecosystems. #WildlifeWednesday

14 Jul 2026 20:22 +0000

🦈 Happy #SharkAwarenessDay! Healthy shark populations are a sign of healthy oceans. These images come from Blue Parks around the world, where effective marine protection is helping sharks thrive. Because protecting places means protecting the species that depend on them. 🌊

09 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000

What makes a marine protected area truly effective? 🌊 Join us on July 15 for an OCTO webinar to learn how the #BlueParks initiative is accelerating effective ocean conservation through science-based standards and a global network of marine protected areas. Register: https://octogroup.org/blue-parks-accelerating-effective-ocean-conservation/

08 Jul 2026 15:50 +0000

Wildlife Wednesday: Kisite Mpunguti Marine Protected Area 🇰🇪 Coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves come together to create a refuge for dolphins, humpback whales, whale sharks, sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds along Kenya's coast. 🌊 #WildlifeWednesday #OceanConservation #BlueParks

03 Jul 2026 18:01 +0000

🌊 Nominations for the 2027 Blue Park Awards are now open! Do you know a marine protected area that is setting the standard for effective ocean conservation? 🔗 Submit a nomination: https://marine-conservation.org/blueparks/nominate/ #BlueParks #MarineConservation #MarineProtectedAreas

01 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000

Happy Wildlife Wednesday! From towering kelp forests and vibrant sea urchins to humpback whales and massive schools of Pacific herring, the Blue Park Gitdisdzu Lugyeks (Kitasu Bay) MPA is a reminder that healthy oceans depend on healthy habitats. #WildlifeWednesday #BlueParks #OceanConservation

29 Jun 2026 16:23 +0000

4.2 million km² of effectively protected ocean. That's roughly the size of the European Union. 🌍 Blue Parks now span 40 sites across 30 countries & Indigenous territories, proving that effective marine protection delivers lasting results. #BlueParks #30x30